The Maine Department of Environmental Protection still expects producers will owe money this year in conjunction with the state’s extended producer responsibility for packaging law. But actually contracting with a stewardship organization to get that process moving has gotten pushed back repeatedly.
Previously, the producer responsibility organization selection process was expected last year. Updated plans to solicit a stewardship organization this spring have not happened yet. “The Department anticipates releasing a Request for Proposals for the Stewardship Organization soon,” Maine DEP’s Jessica Nadeau said in an email this week.
“Producers of packaging material will be required to register and pay startup fees to the Stewardship Organization this year. However, the how and when will depend on when the Department and the Stewardship Organization enter into a contract,” Nadeau said.
DEP intends to update its Stewardship Program for Packaging website once the RFP is issued, “which will include an update to the Anticipated Schedule for Implementation,” she said.
In 2021, Maine became the first state to adopt an EPR for packaging law, but it has since lagged counterparts. While programs in Oregon and Colorado have gotten up and running, and several states have already selected and moved forward with a producer responsibility organization, Maine has yet to take that step.
Maine adopted final rules for the program in December 2024. In 2025, Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 1423 to update the packaging EPR law; amendments were adopted this February. It clarified definitions for producers and producer exemptions, postconsumer recycled material, toxicity and more. Packaging trade groups were pleased that this resulted in closer alignment with other U.S. packaging EPR laws.
Under the current timeline, producers were expected to be registering and reporting 2025 data in May 2026, and would face initial invoices in July 2026. October 2027 is when participating municipalities are slated to receive their first reimbursement for packaging material managed during 2026.
Circular Action Alliance, the producer responsibility organization active in numerous other states, says it intends to respond to Maine’s RFP once it’s available.
“In the meantime, CAA encourages producers to stay engaged with updates from the state and to begin organizing baseline data and internal resources commonly required under EPR programs, recognizing that final requirements will be clarified once a [stewardship organization] is selected,” said Larine Urbina, CAA’s senior vice president of communications, in an emailed statement.
In every other state with a packaging EPR law, producers are coming up against an aligned reporting deadline on May 31.
- In California, producers must submit an annual supply report and annual source reduction report, each covering 2025 data.
- In Colorado and Oregon, producers must submit annual supply reports covering 2025 data to inform the 2027 programs.
- In Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, producers must submit a “simplified” pre-program supply report covering 2025 data.
