Which states have packaging EPR laws, and where does each stand?
Seven states have enacted packaging EPR laws: California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. Oregon and Colorado are collecting fees, California's program begins on January 1, 2027, Minnesota, Washington and Maryland are in registration and reporting, and Maine has no producer obligations yet because no stewardship organization has been contracted. CAA is the producer responsibility organization in six of the seven, and its standard report date is May 31 each year.
Last verified
Oregon
Fees began on July 1, 2025, and producers report their packaging each year. A federal court upheld the law on August 27, 2026, and the trade group that sued has appealed. CAA is expected to publish its 2027 fee schedule in October. The full picture is in Oregon packaging EPR.
California
The regulations took effect on May 1, 2026, and the first registration date, June 1, has passed. CAA's final plan is due to CalRecycle by October 13, final fee rates are expected in October, and the program begins on January 1, 2027 once the plan is approved. The full picture is in California SB 54.
Colorado
Producer responsibility dues began in January 2026. CDPHE approved CAA's plan in December 2025, and CAA had to begin implementing it by June 9, 2026. Two lawsuits challenge the program, and no court has stayed it. The full picture is in Colorado packaging EPR.
Minnesota
Producers had to register with CAA by July 1, 2025. No fees are being invoiced yet. CAA's stewardship plan is due on October 1, 2028, and producers must cover at least 50 percent of program costs from February 1, 2029. The full picture is in Minnesota packaging EPR.
Washington and Maryland
In Washington, producers had to be members of a registered producer responsibility organization by July 1, 2026, and the program reaches full operation in 2030. In Maryland, registration and the simplified supply report were due to CAA on May 31, 2026, and CAA's plan is due to the state on July 1, 2028. The full picture is in Washington and Maryland packaging EPR.
Maine
Maine passed the first packaging EPR law in 2021, with a different design: a stewardship organization reimburses municipalities directly for the cost of recycling packaging. The state's request for proposals for that organization closed on August 18, 2026 with no bids, and CAA said it would not bid. Maine's environmental agency is reviewing updates to the request.
Trade press reports that, with no stewardship organization under contract, producers currently have no registration, reporting or fee obligations under the law. The agency has said it will update its schedule once an organization is under contract. FilingTitan covers the other six states.
What stays the same in every state
CAA's standard report date is May 31 each year, covering the prior calendar year, unless CAA announces otherwise. Fees in these states are built from the quantity and type of material a producer supplies, which comes from the weight and material of each packaging component. That record is built once and kept current. The kits guide shows how: kits, sets and bundles in an EPR report.
Primary sources
- Circular Action Alliance, Producer Resource Center: reporting dates and guidance for registered producers
- Oregon DEQ, Producers of Covered Products: Oregon's registration, deadlines and penalties
- CalRecycle, Packaging EPR (SB 54): California's program page
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Producer Responsibility Program: Colorado's plan approval and dues timing
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Extended producer responsibility for packaging: Minnesota's program
- Washington Department of Ecology, Recycling Reform Act: Washington's program and phases
- Resource Recycling, no bidders respond to Maine's EPR request for proposals: Maine's status and what it means for producers
- Packaging Dive, Maine's EPR program and CAA's decision not to bid: the request for proposals and the agency's response
- Verrill, Maine packaging EPR update: how the missing stewardship organization affects deadlines
FAQ
Which states have packaging EPR laws?
California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington.
Which programs are collecting money now?
Oregon has collected fees since July 2025, and Colorado's producer responsibility dues began in January 2026. California's program begins on January 1, 2027, and the other states are earlier in registration and reporting.
When is the report due?
CAA's standard report date is May 31 each year, covering the prior calendar year, unless CAA announces otherwise.
Does Maine's law apply to brands now?
Trade press reports that producers currently have no registration, reporting or fee obligations in Maine, because no stewardship organization has been contracted. Maine's environmental agency has said it will update its schedule once one is.
Which states does FilingTitan cover?
California, Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Washington and Maryland.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. We work out where a brand stands in each state, build the packaging record, prepare and file the report each cycle and keep it current. Check your exposure to see your own picture, or talk to us.