Bay Cities is working to help customers navigate the growing wave of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation as more states move toward implementation and compliance deadlines begin taking shape.
With EPR laws now passed in seven states – including California, Bay Cities’ home state – and several more with legislation in progress, the company said many brands selling packaged goods into the U.S. market will soon face new reporting requirements and fee structures tied to the packaging they place into commerce. Fee assessments under some programs are expected to begin as early as 2027.
In addition to a focus on compliance, Bay Cities is a valuable resource for customers trying to understand how the legislation may affect packaging decisions, material selection, and long-term costs.
Under EPR frameworks, producers are responsible for helping fund the recycling and end-of-life management of packaging materials. As an ongoing hot topic in the industry, most box makers are already familiar with the concept, but Bay Cities noted that fee structures are beginning to put real numbers behind material choices. Recyclable fiber-based packaging, including corrugated, is expected to carry significantly lower fees than difficult-to-recycle plastic formats under proposed state programs.
The company pointed to Oregon’s 2026 fee schedule as one example, where corrugated packaging fees are projected to remain comparatively low while certain plastics carry substantially higher assessments.
Bay Cities said it plans to continue sharing updates and guidance with customers as state programs evolve, particularly around compliance timelines, reporting obligations, and opportunities to reduce costs through packaging design and material changes.
