Maine Packaging EPR Law
Maine Packaging EPR Law is LD 1541, the 2021 Maine statute that created the first US stewardship program for packaging, under which producers reimburse municipalities for recycling costs.
What it requires
Producers of packaging sold into Maine must register with and pay fees to a stewardship organization contracted by the Maine DEP, with fees varying by material and recyclability. Producers with under 2 million dollars in gross revenue or under 1 ton of packaging a year are exempt, with a 5 million dollar threshold in the program's first years. The program is still in setup: DEP's June 2026 request for a stewardship organization drew no bids by its August 2026 close, so registration and fee dates are unset.
Why it matters
Maine's program is small but signals that packaging EPR fees will spread across US states with different rules and timelines. Brands selling nationally should track packaging by material and by destination state now, since Maine, Oregon, Colorado and California each need state-level data. For example, a brand that ships orders from a Pennsylvania 3PL to Maine customers will need to report the packaging on those orders to the Maine stewardship organization once one is contracted, even though the brand has no Maine facility.
Related laws
- California SB 542022 · California EPR law for packaging and plastic foodware
- Oregon Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act2021, fees from 2025 · Oregon packaging EPR law, first to collect fees
- Colorado Packaging EPR Law2022, dues from 2026 · Colorado producer-funded recycling program for packaging
Sources
Not legal advice.