Policy Now | December 2025 – Year-end nears, policy talks continue – Resource Recycling

Policy Developments Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Waste Management and Circular Economy

Recent policy shifts and industry initiatives reflect a growing global commitment to advancing a circular economy, directly supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Legislative actions focus on enhancing reuse, recycling, and producer responsibility frameworks to minimize waste and promote sustainable infrastructure.

US Legislative Action on Reuse and Refill Systems

The unanimous passage of the Research for Environmental Uses and Sustainable Economies (REUSE) Act in the U.S. Senate marks a significant step towards achieving SDG 12. This legislation directly addresses the need for sustainable consumption and production patterns by focusing on waste reduction at the source.

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The Act mandates the U.S. EPA to gather data on reuse and refill systems, fostering a shift from a single-use model to a circular one. This aligns with Target 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): By promoting reuse over single-use plastics, the legislation contributes to reducing plastic pollution, a key objective of Target 14.1. Senator Jeff Merkley’s statement highlighted the goal of preventing plastics from being “buried, burned, and borne out to sea.”
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The EPA will provide guidance on supporting reuse infrastructure at local, state, and federal levels, fostering innovation and building resilient systems for a circular economy.

Harmonization of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs

With seven U.S. states, covering 20% of the population, enacting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging, the need for policy harmonization has become critical. This effort supports multiple SDGs by creating a more efficient and equitable system for waste management.

1. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The discussion among industry stakeholders about harmonizing state laws exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to achieve sustainable development. A lack of harmonization could impede progress and increase consumer costs.
2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): EPR programs hold producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, a core principle of responsible production. Mandating post-consumer recycled content, as suggested by panelists, would further drive the market for recycled materials, supporting Target 12.5.

Advancements in Plastics Recycling Technologies and Standards

The U.S. Plastics Pact has released a position paper clarifying the role of physical and chemical recycling, emphasizing their integration into a holistic waste management strategy. This initiative promotes transparency and responsible innovation in the recycling sector.

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The paper advocates for these technologies to complement, not displace, reduction, reuse, and mechanical recycling. This balanced approach is essential for the environmentally sound management of waste (Target 12.4).
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By calling for standardized terminology, the Pact aims to create a clearer framework for evaluating and investing in innovative recycling technologies, ensuring they contribute effectively to a circular economy.

Policy and Innovation in Electronic Waste (E-Scrap) Management

Discussions surrounding EPR and policy for e-scrap recovery are advancing, highlighting the need for specialized strategies to manage this growing waste stream. Effective e-scrap management is crucial for preventing environmental contamination and recovering valuable resources.

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Implementing EPR for electronics ensures that producers manage the disposal and recycling of their products, aligning with Target 12.4 concerning the management of hazardous waste.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Proper e-scrap management is a key component of sustainable urban waste systems (Target 11.6), reducing the adverse environmental impact of cities.

International Collaboration on Packaging and Reporting Standards

Canadian Packaging Design Harmonization

Five Canadian producer responsibility organizations (PROs) are collaborating to create harmonized national guidelines for recyclable packaging design. This partnership demonstrates a commitment to cross-regional cooperation for sustainable goals.

• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): This joint effort across provinces, covering 99.9% of Canadians, is a prime example of effective partnership to implement sustainable practices on a national scale.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By aligning design guides with established standards like the Association of Plastic Recyclers Design Guide, the PROs are working to increase the actual recyclability of packaging, directly contributing to Target 12.5.

European Union ESG Reporting Adjustments

The European Commission has refined its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting rules, aiming for more pragmatic and high-quality data. This move impacts global supply chains and corporate sustainability reporting.

• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The focus on high-quality, verifiable data encourages companies to adopt more robust sustainable practices and transparently report on them (Target 12.6).
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): By seeking closer alignment with international frameworks like the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, the EU is promoting global harmonization of sustainability reporting, making it easier for multinational corporations to comply and for stakeholders to compare performance.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The text focuses extensively on shifting from a linear economy to a circular one by promoting policies and practices like recycling, reuse, and refill systems. The discussions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the REUSE Act, and harmonizing standards for recyclable packaging all directly contribute to more sustainable patterns of consumption and production by minimizing waste.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article addresses this goal by highlighting the need to “advance our nation’s infrastructure to one that is more circular.” This involves developing new systems and technologies for reuse, refill, and advanced recycling (both physical and chemical). The REUSE Act, which aims to understand and support the infrastructure needed for reuse systems, is a prime example of fostering innovation for sustainable industrial practices.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article showcases multiple instances of collaboration to achieve sustainability objectives. This includes partnerships between states to harmonize EPR programs, the collaboration of five Canadian Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to create unified guidelines, and the collective effort of members in the U.S. Plastics Pact. These multi-stakeholder efforts are crucial for implementing effective and widespread environmental policies.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is relevant as the article discusses waste management, a critical component of urban sustainability. The implementation of EPR programs for packaging and e-scrap directly impacts how municipal waste is managed. By improving recycling and reuse, these policies help reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, as mentioned in the context of EPR laws covering 20% of the U.S. population.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation

  By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article directly addresses this target through its focus on the “three Rs – reduce, reuse, and recycle.” The REUSE Act is specifically designed to promote reuse and refill systems, while EPR programs aim to increase the recycling of packaging and e-scrap, thereby reducing the amount of waste that is “buried, burned, and borne out to sea.”

• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and industries for sustainability

  By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The article’s opening statement about advancing infrastructure to be “more circular” aligns with this target. Furthermore, the U.S. Plastics Pact’s position paper on integrating physical and chemical recycling technologies points to the adoption of new, environmentally sound processes to manage plastic waste.

• Target 17.17: Encourage effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

  This target is demonstrated by the various collaborative efforts mentioned. The harmonization talks for EPR programs involve both public (state governments) and private (industry stakeholders) entities. The joint effort of Canadian PROs and the existence of the U.S. Plastics Pact are clear examples of private-sector partnerships working within a public policy framework to achieve common sustainability goals.

• Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

  By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article notes that EPR laws have been enacted in seven states, “covering approximately 20% of the nation’s population.” These programs directly improve municipal waste management by creating systems for the collection and recycling of specific materials, thus reducing the burden on landfills and incinerators often located near urban centers.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Data on reuse and refill systems

  The REUSE Act explicitly mandates that the “US EPA to gather data regarding reuse and refill systems.” This data would serve as a direct indicator to measure the scale, effectiveness, and growth of reuse initiatives, contributing to Target 12.5.

• Percentage of population covered by EPR programs

  The article states that EPR programs for packaging now cover “approximately 20% of the nation’s population” in the U.S. and “99.9% of Canadians.” This percentage is a clear quantitative indicator of the reach and implementation of policies aimed at improving waste management and promoting a circular economy (Targets 11.6 and 12.5).

• Harmonized national guidelines for recyclable packaging

  The effort by Canadian PROs to provide “harmonized national guidelines for packaging design recyclable by the end of 2026” is an indicator of progress. The development, adoption, and adherence to these guidelines can be tracked to measure the success of industry collaboration (Target 17.17) and the move towards more recyclable products (Target 12.5).

• Adoption of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content mandates

  The article mentions that “post-consumer recycled content mandates could be necessary to drive widespread adoption” of recycling. The existence and enforcement of such mandates would be a specific policy indicator measuring the commitment to creating markets for recycled materials, which is essential for a functional circular economy (Target 9.4 and 12.5).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: resource-recycling.com