Policy Now | November 2025 – Cities move forward on recycling policy as federal activity stalls – Resource Recycling, Inc.

Report on North American Waste Management Policies and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Municipalities across the United States and Canada are advancing policies for recycling and reuse systems, demonstrating a significant commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report outlines key legislative and programmatic developments in waste management, with a focus on their contributions to creating sustainable cities, fostering responsible consumption and production, and building resilient infrastructure.

Municipal and State-Level Initiatives for Sustainable Urban Development (SDG 11 & 12)

Denver’s “Waste No More” Ordinance

The city of Denver is implementing its “Waste No More” ordinance, a comprehensive initiative designed to transform municipal waste collection into a circular economy model by 2026. This policy directly addresses key sustainability targets:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The ordinance aims to create a more sustainable and resilient urban environment by fundamentally improving city-wide waste management systems.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By mandating universal access to recycling and composting, the policy promotes a significant reduction in waste generation.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Successful implementation requires collaboration between at least six different city agencies, exemplifying the multi-stakeholder partnerships necessary for achieving sustainability goals.

Legislation Targeting Single-Use Plastics and Packaging

Several jurisdictions are taking direct action to reduce waste and improve recycling systems in alignment with SDG 12.

1. Philadelphia: The city council has passed a 10-cent fee on plastic bags to discourage their use and reduce plastic pollution, directly supporting targets for responsible consumption.
2. New Hampshire: The state has pre-filed legislation (HB 6688) for 2026, which aims to revise packaging guidelines for plastic film recycling. This proactive legislative effort seeks to improve the circularity of challenging materials.

Advancements in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Frameworks (SDG 12 & 17)

Expansion of EPR Programs Across North America

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, which shift the financial and operational burden of recycling to producers, are gaining momentum as a key policy tool for achieving SDG 12.

• Yukon Territory: The Yukon has launched the first EPR program for household packaging and paper in a Canadian territory. This producer-led system is designed to improve recycling rates and environmental outcomes by holding businesses accountable for the materials they introduce to the market.
• Colorado: The Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is developing the state’s EPR system. A key objective is to establish a free residential recycling program funded by producers, which will expand access to recycling services and help raise the state’s recycling rate from 16% to closer to the national average. This initiative supports both SDG 11 by improving municipal services and SDG 12 by enhancing recycling infrastructure.
• Oregon: Under the state’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, the first of over 140 planned “RecycleOn Oregon” drop-off centers has opened. These centers will accept hard-to-recycle materials, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by building a more comprehensive and resilient recycling infrastructure.

Challenges in EPR Harmonization

While EPR is a transformative policy, industry analysis indicates that the patchwork of different state-level requirements creates significant compliance challenges for producers. This highlights a critical need for greater collaboration and harmonization among states to create a cohesive and efficient system, reinforcing the importance of SDG 17.

Fostering Circular Economies through Legislation and Market Development

Supporting Domestic Manufacturing and Circular Supply Chains (SDG 8 & 9)

California’s Assembly Bill 899 extends and increases market-development payments for in-state glass bottle manufacturers. This legislation is a strategic investment that aligns with multiple SDGs:

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): It supports local jobs and reinforces domestic supply chains within the state’s food and wine industries.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The policy fosters a circular and resilient domestic manufacturing base for glass packaging.

Global Impact of European Union Regulations

A study by ICIS and the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) projects that European Union regulations, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), will drive a sharp increase in global demand for recycled plastics. This demonstrates how regional policies can influence global markets, accelerating the transition to sustainable production patterns in line with the international scope of SDG 12.

Promoting Sustainable Consumption through Right-to-Repair Legislation (SDG 12)

Legislative Progress in the United States

The right-to-repair movement is gaining significant traction, with ten states, including Washington, Texas, and New York, having enacted legislation related to the repair of electronic devices. These laws empower consumers and independent businesses to fix products, which directly supports SDG 12 by promoting reuse and extending product lifespans.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

Extending the life of consumer electronics offers substantial environmental benefits by reducing electronic waste and the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing new devices. It is reported that if Americans kept their mobile phones for one year longer, the environmental benefit would be equivalent to taking 636,000 cars off the road, underscoring the critical role of repair in achieving a circular economy.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

The article discusses issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus is on waste management, recycling, and creating circular economies, which aligns with goals centered on urban sustainability, responsible production, and climate action.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The article highlights municipal-level actions to manage waste and improve the urban environment. Denver’s “Waste No More” ordinance and Philadelphia’s plastic bag fee are prime examples of city-led efforts to create more sustainable living spaces by tackling waste management challenges.

2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire text revolves around shifting from a linear “take-make-dispose” model to a circular one. Initiatives like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Yukon, Colorado, and Oregon, the “right-to-repair” movement, and efforts to increase recycled content in packaging directly promote sustainable consumption and production patterns by reducing waste and keeping materials in use for longer.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The development of new systems and infrastructure for recycling is a key theme. Oregon’s plan to open over 140 drop-off centers for hard-to-recycle materials and Colorado’s overhaul of its statewide recycling system represent significant investments in sustainable infrastructure. Furthermore, California’s law to bolster domestic glass manufacturing supports resilient and sustainable industrialization.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article explicitly links waste management to climate goals. Denver’s zero-waste initiative is managed by its “Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency department” with the goal of “Cutting Denver’s Carbon Pollution.” The “right-to-repair” section quantifies the climate benefits, stating that extending phone lifespans by one year would be the “carbon equivalent of taking 636,000 cars off the road.”

5. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The push for a circular economy is linked to economic benefits. The article mentions that California’s actions to prioritize domestic glass production will “support jobs tied to the state’s food and wine industries.” Building and operating new recycling infrastructure also creates employment opportunities, contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed as directly relevant to the policies and actions described.

1. 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. Denver’s “Waste No More” ordinance, which aims to transform the city’s waste collection system, and Philadelphia’s 10-cent plastic bag fee are direct policy actions aimed at achieving this target at the municipal level.

2. Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation

   • By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. This target is at the core of nearly every initiative mentioned. EPR programs in the Yukon, Colorado, and Oregon are designed to increase recycling. The “right-to-repair” movement promotes reuse by extending product lifespans. New Hampshire’s proposed bill explicitly aimed to “cut packaging by 50% over 10 years.”

3. 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. The creation of new recycling infrastructure, such as the “first-of-its-kind recycling center” in Ashland, Oregon, and the broader plan for 140 more, directly addresses this target. These facilities are designed to increase resource-use efficiency by capturing materials that were previously difficult to recycle.

4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies

   • Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article shows this happening at the sub-national level. Denver’s ordinance is part of its official Climate Action plan. The discussion around the carbon impact of e-waste and repair demonstrates an integration of climate considerations into waste management and product lifecycle policies.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to track progress towards the identified targets.

1. Recycling Rate

   • This is a direct and frequently mentioned indicator. The article states Colorado’s current recycling rate is “only 16%… about half the national average,” providing a baseline. New Hampshire’s failed bill included a goal of reaching a “70% recycling rate in 12 years,” showing that this metric is central to policymaking. This indicator measures progress towards Target 12.5.

2. Waste and Packaging Reduction Targets

   • The article mentions that New Hampshire’s proposed legislation would have required producers to “cut packaging by 50% over 10 years.” This percentage reduction is a clear indicator for measuring waste prevention at the source, directly related to Target 12.5.

3. Carbon Emission Reductions

   • The environmental benefit of right-to-repair is quantified in terms of climate impact: keeping phones for one year longer is equated to “taking 636,000 cars off the road.” This provides a powerful indicator for measuring the success of reuse policies in relation to Target 13.2.

4. Number of States/Jurisdictions Adopting Policies

   • The article tracks the adoption of key policies. It notes that “Over a third of the country by population now has some form of right-to-repair law” and that the Yukon is the “first territory in Canada to adopt EPR.” This legislative tracking serves as an indicator of policy integration and momentum.

5. Infrastructure Development

   • The plan in Oregon to establish “more than 140” drop-off centers for hard-to-recycle materials is a concrete indicator of progress in building the necessary infrastructure to support a circular economy, relevant to Target 9.4.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: resource-recycling.com