From Farm to Shelf – COVID’s Impact on Global Supply Chains
On July 1, 2025, Oregon’s Plastic Pollution & Recycling Modernization Act (RMA) will significantly change the state’s recycling system. The RMA places responsibility on “producers” to fund and manage the recycling process for...more
Working toward a more circular economy will continue to be at the forefront in 2025. More and more, states are requiring producers to manage the end-of-life of an increasing number of consumer items, from packaging materials,...more
CalRecycle, the agency overseeing California’s recycling and waste management programs, reports that Californians dispose of 1.2 million tons of textiles annually, accounting for 3% of landfilling. California Senate Bill (SB)...more
In the past month, both Maine and Massachusetts have taken steps to implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and rules, with the intent of shifting the financial responsibility of managing packaging material from...more
In two monumental November 14, 2024 spilt decisions, the West Virginia Supreme Court gives oil and gas lessees a huge win and makes doing business in West Virginia more expensive for oil and gas producers....more
Businesses that expect to be deemed “producers” of single-use packaging, paper, or food service ware (“covered materials”) under the various extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) programs unfolding in several U.S. states...more
The Colorado Legislature has adopted an Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) Program which requires producers of certain packaging and paper materials to cover the cost of recycling those materials in the state. If you...more
Post-consumer recycled content (“PCR”) plays an important role in extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) programs for packaging. Among other purposes, the EPR programs are intended to increase the quantity and quality of...more
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy enacted by several states,1 which extends a manufacturer’s responsibility for its product’s packaging materials to the end of the product’s life cycle....more
The extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) programs for packaging that are currently unfolding in several states impose two primary obligations on producers of covered materials—reporting data and paying fees to a producer...more
Through many of our projects, clients often mention alignment as a gas "Producer" or "Optimizer." The distinction lies in where the operational focus is attuned – flowing assured gas to customers or optimizing earnings...more
For better or worse, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is already transforming the way we live and work. Within two months of its initial release to the public, ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly active users, making...more
In October 2022, I circulated “An In-Depth Examination of Inflation Relief for a Government Contractor[.]” Much has occurred since. Inflation remains an acute problem. In turn, contractors and subcontractors continue...more
As this nation prepared to celebrate the Independence Day long weekend, many were preparing for the July 1, 2022, reinstatement of the Superfund chemicals tax (the Superfund Tax). The Superfund Tax is an excise tax imposed on...more
The California Court of Appeal recently provided much needed clarification regarding the application of Proposition 65, which prohibits businesses from knowingly and intentionally exposing individuals to certain chemicals...more
In recent months, new and modified Department of Commerce regulations impacting antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) proceedings have taken effect. These changes, which are intended “to strengthen and improve the...more
In October 2021, citizen plaintiff groups issued more than two hundred fifty (250) new Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) Notices of Violation (“Notices”), including some amended Notices to add additional products and/or new alleged...more
In September 2021, citizen plaintiff groups issued two hundred fifty (250) Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) Notices of Violation (“Notices”), including some amended Notices to add additional products and/or new alleged “violators”...more
Last month, citizen plaintiff groups issued over three hundred thirty-five (335) Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) Notices of Violation (“Notices”). Alleged phthalates in plastic consumer products and components made up the largest...more
Signaling a notable advance in “extended producer responsibility” (EPR) policies, on July 13, Maine became the first U.S. state to require companies to pay fees related to the type and quantity of packaging for products sold...more
July 2021 was a noteworthy month for newly initiated Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) claims as reflected in 60-day Notices of Violation (“Notices”). While last month’s total number of Notices (two hundred forty-eight (248)) was...more
In June 2021, Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) citizen plaintiff groups were active once again, and sent over three hundred (300) total Notices. Once again, a large part of this activity related to allegations regarding food...more
In May 2021, Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) citizen plaintiff groups were active once again. More specifically, plaintiff groups filed two hundred ninety-eight (298) Prop. 65 Notices of Violation (“Notices”), which was nearly...more
In April, much to the relief of food and consumer products industries, Proposition 65 (“Prop. 65”) citizen plaintiff groups sent roughly half of the number of 60-Day Notices of Violation (“Notices”) that they sent in prior...more
Here is a seemingly trending tale in Hollywood: A film production has cast the lead role. The press release has been made. The news is trending on social media. Investments are starting to pour in. But then controversy...more