FAQs

EPR stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. For the Producer, this means that their responsibility spans from the entire lifecycle of the product, meaning that it extends through the post-consumer phase, including waste reduction, recovery, recycling, and reuse, and in many cases, includes the design, operation, and financing of the recycling program. 

The intent of state EPR laws is to shift financial responsibility to producers for the products and packaging that go into the marketplace and away from the municipalities and regional waste authorities.

Most states have many similar requirements related to EPR. The regulatory focus in each state is on brand owners (Producers) or companies that license or trademark a brand in which the product is sold or brought into the state by a third party. Producers often develop a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), which manages the collection, transport, and recycling of products to ensure environmentally sound management of these products.  

Typical Features:

• Producers are required to comply with the State EPR Law
• Producers can form/join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) or develop an Alternative Collection Program (ACP)
• Producers fund the PRO or ACP by paying fees based on volume/amount sold by product type and by state

State EPR laws apply to Producers of many consumer-based products across multiple industries, including the petroleum and automotive industry. While there can be slight variations in applicability between states, in general state laws requires the Producer or “first-seller” of a product and its packaging in a state to comply. State EPR laws require Producers to be responsible for the products that they make and sell. Including the post-consumer collection and recycling.

To understand the particularities and differences of each state, the Product Stewardship Institute has developed a comparison tool that is accessible through its webpage.

The Consumer Product Goods (CPG) packaging collection programs, often called curbside residential collection program,  have similar objectives to Interchange 360 in that they aim to provide the material back to their members for the creation of new products and packaging. Petroleum and automotive packaging often contaminates and adds costs the CPG recycling stream and makes it cost-prohibitive to collect and recycle in a co-mingled system. Globally, where there is an EPR requirement for Packaging, Petroleum and Automotive packaging is almost always collected separately as it is more efficient, more cost-effective and provides better environmental outcomes.

LPMA powered by Interchange 360 is a National EPR program built by industry, for industry. It is a National 501(c) nonprofit organization that is transparent and accountable to its Members and Participants in providing compliance and Circular Economy solutions. 

Working collaboratively with other industry organizations, LPMA powered by Interchange 360 enables member compliance in all EPR states and future EPR states by providing state-specific solutions for petroleum and automotive products and packaging.

LPMA powered by Interchange 360 members include petroleum and automotive product brand owners and Retailers. Our approach is flexible with a focus on providing solutions according to the specific state’s needs.

LPMA powered by Interchange 360 is Producer-controlled and is governed by the Board of Directors and supported by the CEO and Management team using a compliance execution model.

Any company who believes they may meet the definition of Producer under a State packaging EPR law, should review the regulation carefully to determine whether it they are a covered producer in Colorado or Oregon. LPMA powered by Interchange 360 is not able to provide legal advice or make this determination for you.

LPMA powered by Interchange 360 is the National EPR program for the Petroleum and Automotive Industry. If you sell products into a State with an EPR Law, you will be required to comply with that Law by reporting your sales and meeting the State collection and recycling targets.

LPMA powered by Interchange 360 makes compliance easy and efficient for the industry through:

• Cost efficiencies from sector-wide collaboration 
• Execution through an experienced team and industry knowledge
• Producer-controlled and industry-specific solutions
• Right-sized design to provide a solution according to the specific state’s needs

All producers of petroleum and automotive products and their associated packaging are welcome to join Interchange 360.

For Colorado – please complete the Participant Agreement on the Colorado State REsponse Page.

For all other states – please complete the Notice of Intent form on the Producers page so we can keep you updated on program development in future states based on their specific compliance requirements.

Reporting and payment of environmental fees/producer responsibility dues are to be done on a quarterly basis and within one month after each quarter end.  For example, for the quarter July 1^st to September 30^th, these applicable sales should be reported on and paid for by October 31^st.

Below is a list of some of the important acronyms related to LPMA powered by Interchange 360: 

• EPR – Extended Producer Responsibility
• PRO – Producer Responsibility Organization
• ACP – Alternative Collection Program
• PPA – Poison Prevention Act
• PSI – Product Stewardship Institute
• CPG – Consumer Product Goods
• NLCRC – National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition