In a letter to Josh Newman of California State Senate, AAFA president and chief executive officer Stephen Lamar said the change is an acknowledgement of the stakeholder process the former’s office had engaged in over the past two years and the amendments indicate attempts to address several AAFA concerns.

“We believe well-designed extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes will play a crucial role in directing investment towards reuse, repair, and recycling infrastructure, and bolstering their respective markets, all while incentivising the prioritisation of product stewardship when designing and manufacturing new products,” the letter said.

AAFA has outstanding questions about some of the timelines included in this measure, the efficacy of the legislation’s enforcement provisions against third-party sellers on online marketplaces, the legislation’s pathways for new and emerging recycling technologies to benefit and participate in this programme, and potential conflicts between the goals of this legislation and other statutory and regulatory requirements in California, the letter noted.

“However, it is not our wish to delay needed progress in search of perfection. We are appreciative of the efforts by you and your office thus far to consider industry feedback. In that spirit, we are removing our opposition to SB 707,” it added.

SBS Zipper News Desk (DS)