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<DIV><div class=WordSection1><div align=center><table border=0 cellpadding=0 class=MsoNormalTable style='width:446.25pt;background:white' width=595><tr><td style='width:99.32%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt' width="99%"><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>Having trouble viewing this email? <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=yeo7t5cab&v=001KvOA9nYSxsrqQDgxM_6VkotpMHRMBLD_zSQomsGG48kXubAg9Sogwtmdd-W3rMfVkgaZgtsyupxo-V2BhPMfoDc_uzRD8mJmtUzOikfdq9RNkHHGct_iBhixU0V7e_kv" target="_blank">Click here </a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></div><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable id="content_LETTER.BLOCK1" style='width:100.0%;background:white' width="100%"><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in' valign=top><div align=center><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable style='width:6.25in' width=600><tr><td style='width:100.0%;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt' valign=top width="100%"><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable style='width:100.0%' width="100%"><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='text-align:center'>A printable version is available <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJU2_jXWtN2zveEdmqDjitLJjT9w7A3FrH_v2vI7GV8Udr0i50PjawRYBpOTFxWRPvWrBDSQUdudFcRO7h6eZN2lyFGttMETuR2h_yB4KCAxs7BQuynvskfB7NyvfMbSJHsWWi_AKHH3i_T_xJiY1haRygDb4CNgTDE98PVVRU366ODy6h4au2Ryl8WLTD1NdvLmI1eA17sHqynS1NrN6-Ps" target="_blank">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:black;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt' valign=top><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable id="content_LETTER.BLOCK2" style='width:100.0%;background:white' width="100%"><tr><td style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in' valign=top width="100%"><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable style='width:100.0%' width="100%"><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.25pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><img alt="PS Updates Banner" border=0 height=105 id="_x0000_i1025" name=ACCOUNT.IMAGE.8 src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs069/1102686599320/img/8.jpg" width=600> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in' valign=top width="100%"><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable id="content_LETTER.BLOCK3" style='width:100.0%' width="100%"><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt'><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:#1F497D;letter-spacing:6.0pt;text-shadow:auto'>Product Stewardship Updates<br></span><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:#1F497D'>News briefs on worldwide product stewardship initiatives</span></b><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:#1F497D'>December 16, 2010 | Volume 4, Issue 23</span></b><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:#003366'> </span></b><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:#003366'>United States</span></b><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span style='color:black'> </span></i><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>EPR Legislation Update</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>The chart below summarizes legislative activity on bills requiring extended producer responsibility (EPR) since the last issue of PS Updates. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><table border=1 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='width:246.6pt;border:solid black 1.0pt;background:#99CCFF;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt' valign=top width=329><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>State EPR Bills<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='width:246.6pt;border:solid black 1.0pt;border-left:none;background:#99CCFF;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt' valign=top width=329><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Bill Status<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='width:246.6pt;border:solid black 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt' valign=top width=329><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>New York - Rechargeable Batteries (S. 3593)<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='width:246.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt' valign=top width=329><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Signed into Law (12-13-10)<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='width:246.6pt;border:solid black 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt' valign=top width=329><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>San Francisco - Pharmaceuticals<o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='width:246.6pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt' valign=top width=329><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Passed by Board of Supervisors (12-14-10)<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:#1F497D'> </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:#003366'> </span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:#003366'>United States</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span style='color:black'> </span></i><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>San Francisco Passes Mandatory Prescription Drug Take-Back Program</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Mandatory, industry-run drug take-back programs are already well established in British Columbia and Manitoba, but San Francisco has become the first U.S. jurisdiction to pass an ordinance establishing EPR for prescription drug take-back. The ordinance would require prescription drug manufacturers, by 2011, to establish a system for the safe, secure collection of consumers' unwanted or expired pharmaceuticals. Enactment of the ordinance requires a second vote and the Mayor's signature. City Supervisors cited the desire to reduce drug abuse, accidental poisonings, and water pollution from active pharmaceutical compounds as reasons for its passage. Manufacturers opposed the ordinance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJWnBEVpDuD8b-j1VkEcVUq4vztTogMQHwyjWS3SEiW9jzCMEJJYwDLP8yq2LsKQfRWRHHj4LL3xhoaKZ64zhXnTlmce_8G5Nxn0g_XOnl3ntOctG7ijnmZcLFRyK17cGydhPYRgZ3NUkoeiQa_ogjkpW5_l2OPtkK10HSwPVnXffQ==" target="_blank">SF Mandates Disposal of Drugs</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>San Francisco Examiner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>December 15, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span style='color:black'> </span></i><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Tackles the Issue of Drug Waste in Long Term Care Facilities</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule making intended to limit the quantity of drugs that become waste in long-term care facilities. CMS is currently soliciting comments on its proposal to require "short-cycle" dispensing of certain drugs and the return of unwanted drugs from long-term care facilities to a pharmacy. PSI is encouraging our members, partners, and other colleagues to take this opportunity to weigh in on the aspects of the rulemaking that relate to the reduction of pharmaceutical waste and the management of that waste. Comments are due on January 11, 2011. </span><b><i><span style='color:red'>PSI will be hosting a call at 4:00 - 5:00 pm EST on Tuesday December 21<sup>st</sup> to provide an overview of the proposed rulemaking, its potential implications, and possible regulatory or logistical challenges with implementation.</span></i></b><span style='color:black'> If you would like to participate in this call, please RSVP: (<a href="mailto:kate@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">kate@productstewardship.us</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJWNk-iqOlN4D-z52didp3ByTPVC1Y6y_VJXLK2oLObWmEYjlE8iq2jmvjVJWAP0Q2-UrdRGBBz3sAGc6xI9jIvy5_KbImceiaFG4dVubO-cyvFiYtefWGrS6w4RdfW8HCSf0GRJb-tCC5tLPJAWgJVH" target="_blank">CMS Proposed Rule Making</a> (see 71205-71203 or PDF pages 17-21)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Federal Registrar <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>22 November 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span style='color:black'> </span></i><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><span style='color:black'> </span></i><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>Coastal Marine Debris Alliance Looks to Product Stewardship</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>The Governors of California, Oregon, and Washington, along with the Premier of British Columbia, recently announced the launch of a strategic waste management alliance to address marine debris along the Pacific coastline. The West Coast Marine Debris Alliance will consist of government officials, industry representatives, fishermen, and non-profit organizations. The recent announcement, which came at the annual Leaders Forum of the Pacific Coast Collaborative held in Davis, California, also includes an initiative to promote product stewardship as a valuable mechanism to reduce marine debris. The three state Governors have provided a $100,000 funding grant and the Premier of British Columbia has committed $30,000 to support the program. The Alliance is the result of the West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health (WCGA), a pledge signed by the three state Governors in 2006 to address high-priority ocean-health issues. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJXpolBfcUCN6UjCnj_6IowsK4v4w-_AHuZcqlgn9BCJgOrK3B2APGzcrTXFPeXZY2BquNgur6VmHg0bbg7QH4GKlyH_JGx_oj4ZIAso24kRzLZjVnLsu_nUg-c2jGnIgWKG1eYIEEy41-agUe4ULYsswgRjjdmXrV_E1NPDeqp_BwJGVW54CNEsX69Z0vTYVfg7rj4a9ha34Nolmi8sBJjqMujDeqjgecCi2Cc_l9F7qr2cK3g5CXwlBXi_vNiVGt1WtP5KJs2RXUqCI5dCa1VYQ7uEzGZy22Q=" target="_blank">West Coast Marine Debris Alliance Announcement</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Pacific Coast Collaborative - Press Release<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>November 16, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>Starbucks Recycles Used Cups into New Fiber for Cups, Napkins</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Starbucks Coffee Company has completed a pilot project showing that used Starbucks paper cups can be successfully recycled into new cups. Many communities do not have the infrastructure to handle paper cup recycling, largely due to low demand for post-consumer cup material. International Paper and Mississippi River Pulp worked with Starbucks to create the cups and to carry out the recycling process, respectively. Mississippi River Pulp is currently the only pulp mill in the country that has successfully recycled used paper cups into fiber suitable for new cups. With this pilot, Starbucks has taken a significant step towards its goal that all cups will be reusable or recyclable by 2015. In another pilot currently underway in New York, the company is collecting cups to recycle into paper towels, an effort that will be continued in Chicago in early 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJXYPYq0pKFFA7iq3i6K8T7nB2P6rEz9z4346dDkquT627MBiXKreR8lAF0PdA-p2XJCHqCQQF7M47Z77MMQ3XYeFimPIik_Cs7Xv1jZQQQ-71bbNFqlZBsp0gGRMnvGHc2QaCdcQLBypkANw1N5bXrQ7nFNikhLFFUjfBdlySucvOro1WCcpyNzbaAokyDU7qw4fyqQH9fVqw==" target="_blank">Starbucks turns used cups into new cups</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Environmental Leader<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>November 30, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>EPA Develops New Criteria for Safer Chemicals</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJUxLoSwtfK29zsDUdmrbyLVWy5OkoSvw2DF5mkeQaEeqCHwLhtuymQF88PgGXOtlXzqKqvU0AKRAMFxUtPb1O4jy-oIfwzEo36HHbftDD037BY8Z5vniOuA3L3IWukbnBJ0bRrEYm2s5w==" target="_blank"><span style='color:#001982'>new criteria</span></a> for governments, companies, and organizations to use when identifying safer chemical alternatives. The criteria include safety assessments gathered by the agency's Design for Environment (DfE) Alternatives Assessments effort in conjunction with industry data on chemical performance and cost to guide businesses in choosing safer alternatives. Chemicals undergoing evaluation are assigned hazard levels of high, medium, or low based on public health and environmental concern. The list of chemicals undergoing a DfE Alternatives Assessment includes bisphenol A (BPA) and decaBDE flame retardants. Replacing BPA in thermal paper (used for cash register receipts) and replacing decaBDE flame retardants in consumer electronics "will eliminate an important route of human and environmental exposure to this chemical." <b>Comments on these criteria will be accepted through January 31, 2011.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJXV0SvhtFvfrQsNLiGJ4CEFFJmtLT7Cp6xTPBq5PMzL7ompnZ37GNw3GkP9uTcvIN3RPlIR1uQEEKrTKoBCJUB_bwLNb0NdBDfm6oXWl_jN4-RVC8Cv4bqpfBXFZQYXDTdRJlDfWtqctH5WZGuZXddMwZjAgIYqxXJgEhr7PrUdfg6gmRW3LlS4i_P8pnktyYtbpAYKvCpWXl2AFPPxvqmHXMN1WPPn6xslYjYhRQPwCPNSfnHphLAG" target="_blank">EPA Announces New Tool to Promote Safer Chemicals and Products</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>U.S. EPA - Press Release<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>November 30, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>Minnesota, Maine Release Initial Reports Related to Stewardship Laws</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has completed its first evaluation of the state's e-waste recycling law, passed in 2007. The initial evaluation has concluded that many of the early goals set for the program have been met, although some changes may be necessary to improve the operations. Since its July 2007 start, the program has yielded annual per-capita recycling figures of 6.5 pounds (2007), 5.7 pounds (2008), and 6.2 pounds (2009). Also, the total number of electronics collection sites available in the state has risen from 228 to 247 in that same time period. The report recommends that: (1) the scope of products should be expanded and (2) the manufacturers' obligation to recover 80% (by weight) of the materials sold in the previous year should be increased to 90%. <b>Comments on the report will be accepted through December 30, 2010.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJU_Pc2shfaN2lBBgyfo0lvKPL-4xTZid1Tg5M4OJzwakVq0-y6aHcYWs9O2cmf_HSlnlvFnhqEMiJsGzpo3WNQmwSCIwCj70pu61Zr_iTeYN3gRhuSrbYwiKTtWsJ_Tf1OdVattp6sDhfSI1-Ef035P0mEyk6SgkpN-xaaHTXS_926gZSNx5M0A" target="_blank">2010 Evaluation Report on the Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Minnesota Pollution Control Agency<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>December 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has finished its first report required under the state's Product Stewardship Framework Law. The law, passed in 2010, creates a uniform system under which new products may be considered for inclusion under Maine's product stewardship program. The law is the first of its kind to be passed in the United States and represents an alternative, and perhaps more efficient, legislative process for setting up producer responsibility systems for certain products. This first report, entitled <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJXSnVb5WOOF3Wahs9JflXWavpzIFDkexfVHvVUEposP6IyzFZRcVjslgi1kgroI2ppSq4ZrOka1g8jHx62RxRANUJ5CeuFFFw9sRPefZFXR6PsjWRAcYSxPENHqtb1Tl_tRSBjNsOLrjibwkekuX4iyvGhQp_vb6TkqTubgBDUVQ-hTm3ELxtlAF754u-DHTvWPjSOazvK-yQ==" target="_blank"><span style='color:#001982'>Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine</span></a><i>, </i>suggests the creation of paint, pharmaceuticals, and medical sharps extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems in the state. In addition to this framework law, Maine has already passed product-specific EPR laws for electronics, mercury thermostats, automotive switches, batteries, and fluorescent lamps. <b>Comments will be accepted on the report until January 7, 2011.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJWJYOMt_sIW4NOFDDgaTwgOY6bbMmRFrGKK8kqh4UI5ziU12fil0A3Le0MWHveR0oYEXhuMKQcno70zKpVRuihPpoVFQL2i1M0qd3Y0VeitTGwhwbweGN76I_iMc-IsdzJHN-QwAP2VyVSR9hCHpXxt" target="_blank">Maine's Product Stewardship Programs</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Maine Department of Environmental Protection<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>December 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-variant:small-caps;color:#003366'>Canada</span></b><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'>Report Describes Flaws in Ontario Eco-Fee Program</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='font-variant:small-caps;color:black'> </span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>In the wake of this summer's controversy over "eco fees" on certain products in Ontario, a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJXB_otMEdVZkpdkvtCUAME9VtuOJ9MUpjl4_m-g58vwKCvy4EasrN-0cYtk-tbg8vHQww2dFPzzLmEr3CjYv7KCI27Q1k6G2cBR3jA68Gy7Bkr9G5AtvZVAfQyHOFVS54kcVnjW8MHprA==" target="_blank">report</a> from the C.D. Howe Institute aims to clarify the steps that can be taken by governments and industry to properly educate the public about the logistics of such producer responsibility programs. Although these end-of-life recycling fees were already in place for several products in the province, this summer saw an uproar from angry consumers and retailers over the phasing in of new fees on household batteries, detergents, and fertilizers. Far from indicting EPR as a waste diversion scheme, the report stresses the value of such systems and highlights a few of the critical factors in creating a fair and successful stewardship law. Among the primary conflicts raised this summer in Ontario was the fact that manufacturers chose to handle their stewardship costs in different ways. Some, but not all, opted to use eco-fees visible on the customer's receipt. The report suggests that: program targets should be established in a transparent way, realistic, and based on consideration of the costs and benefits; producers should be allowed to fulfill their obligations both collectively and individually; competition should be encouraged; consumers should be proactively encouraged to participate in the program (using deposits or other incentives beyond just public education); and governance of the system should include both public and private interests. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yeo7t5cab&et=1104088442247&s=4253&e=001DJWqX0adLJWFGZ3efZOCdZOvuD0xnXXWH2NCtBr8GODa8BJD9mTPvEVjkUJdhiQbZsyutyOWco6lisxsDygBEk07MInzvUOH_NNnSEwO7JMw4NZv7pZmYIRAj5Au30T1XKyPMkVbJRehGfAZjgnRTQcXzCHXnV8Wr2g_O4gHx8cejXtHzk9psNnKQDP5nb5GzUcNiyO6IRmZk_TzB0o2lFbp8F2rM0jVH9uvYkL2BLpb6IuhWT43B_ntL69_yE-9mTPpYxr7K2rVv4TC2F538POsTf_FnFMIPIMFnPqkb8t12IuET0qVKDHcAPzODFfhvXxzYo5g5bRJ8KNumqCQwbvo5J2Dml66" target="_blank">Ontario's "Eco-fee Imbroglio" Holds Lessons for Other Provinces</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>Cornwall Free News<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'>December 12, 2010 <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in' valign=top width="100%"><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable id="content_LETTER.BLOCK9" style='width:100.0%' width="100%"><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt'><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:4.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:black'> </span><span style='color:#333333'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='text-align:center'><span style='color:#333333'>You are receiving this bi-weekly update because you are <br>a Full Government Member or Partner of PSI.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><span style='color:#333333'><br>To unsubscribe, please email <a href="mailto:lisa@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">lisa@productstewardship.us</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='text-align:center'><span style='color:#333333'>Have an article in mind that you think should be included in <br>the next PSI News Update? Send them to us!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center class=MsoNormal style='text-align:center'><span style='color:#333333'><br>Please forward any articles of interest on the topic of product stewardship <br>to Lisa Gould at: <a href="mailto:lisa@productstewardship.us" target="_blank">lisa@productstewardship.us</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><span style='color:#333333'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in' valign=top width="100%"><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=MsoNormalTable id="content_LETTER.BLOCK5" style='width:100.0%' width="100%"><tr><td style='padding:3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt' valign=bottom><p align=center style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Product Stewardship Institute</span></b><span style='color:black'> </span><span 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