TABLE OF CONTENTS



REGIONAL OVERVIEW & COMPARISON

Regional Policy Landscape

Across the Northeast’s 11 states, survey responses show a mixture of policy approaches to sustainable materials management. 

Key patterns:

• Product Bans are common for certain single-use plastics and expanded polystyrene (EPS) in many states; some states also listed bans for mercury-containing products and other targeted toxics.
• Product Stewardship and EPR activity varies: several states (CT, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, VT) report active Producer-Funded programs, Consumer / Eco Fee programs, or combinations of both for materials such as electronics, paint, tires, mattresses, batteries, mercury thermostats, carpet, and packaging. In some states, programs are fully Producer-Funded, while others rely on Consumer / Eco Fees (such as deposits or point-of-sale stewardship fees) or a combination of both approaches. Some states also use regulatory approaches categorized as “Other,” including retailer take-back requirements, registration incentives, or material-specific management mandates.
• Minimum Post-Consumer Recycled Content laws exist in some states: CT, ME (PCR for beverage containers), NJ (multiple packaging types), NY (carpet), and others that reference procurement or possible future rulemaking for PCR).
• Mandatory Recycling Laws exist in most states, though the exact scope varies (municipal planning, commercial generator requirements, or material-specific rules).
• Disposal Bans are widely used: commonly banned items include e-waste (covered devices), lead-acid batteries, whole tires, food/yard/organics (in some states), mattresses, white goods, and various mercury-added items. Implementation is sometimes permit-based (e.g., Maryland) or statute-based.

Comparison of Policy Tools Across States

The Program-Presence Comparison Table provides a comparison of the primary policy tools used across the eleven Northeast states. Each row represents a state, and each column represents one of the five major policy categories evaluated in this guide: product bans, product stewardship programs, minimum post-consumer recycled content requirements, mandatory recycling laws, and disposal bans. A checkmark indicates that the state reported having that policy tool in place.

Product Stewardship Program Structures

The Product Stewardship Program Comparison Table focuses specifically on how product stewardship programs are funded across the Northeast states. It distinguishes between Producer-Funded programs, where manufacturers finance and manage end-of-life systems, and Advanced Consumer / Eco-Fee programs, where costs are shared with or passed on to consumers through fees such as deposits or point-of-sale charges.

Material-Level Policy Coverage

The Program Presence by Material Type table provides a detailed, material-level view of policy coverage across the Northeast states. Each row represents a material category, and each column represents a state. A checkmark indicates that the state reported adopting any type of policy tool affecting that material, including product bans, product stewardship programs, mandatory recycling requirements, disposal bans, or other regulatory provisions.

This table highlights where policy attention is most concentrated. Materials such as electronics, mercury thermostats, tires, lead-acid batteries, paint, and beverage containers are addressed by most states, indicating strong regional alignment. In contrast, emerging or less-regulated materials—such as electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and certain specialty waste streams—appear in very few states, suggesting areas where policy is still developing. The table also illustrates the diversity of approaches, with some states covering a broad range of materials while others focus on more limited categories.

Regional Coverage by Material

The Material Coverage Ranking Table ranks materials based on how many states report having a policy or program addressing them, providing a regional perspective on policy coverage. Materials are grouped into coverage tiers—ranging from “No Coverage” to “Wide”—based on the number of states with reported programs.

The ranking reinforces key regional trends. Electronics, mercury thermostats, tires, and batteries fall into the highest coverage tier, reflecting long-established policy focus across the Northeast. A middle tier includes materials such as plastic bags, polystyrene, fluorescent lighting, and packaging, where policies are present but not universal. At the lower end, materials such as solar panels, electric vehicle batteries, and certain niche waste streams show limited or no coverage, highlighting emerging areas for future policy development.

Most Widely Regulated Materials

The Top 5 Regulated Materials Chart highlights the five most widely regulated materials across the Northeast, based on the number of states reporting a policy or program for each material. The values represent how many of the eleven states address each material in some way.

Summary of Product Stewardship Approaches

The Product Stewardship Programs Chart provides an aggregate view of the types of product stewardship programs reported across the region, highlighting funding mechanisms. The totals reflect how many programs fall into each category: Producer-Funded, Advanced Consumer / Eco-Fee, Both, and Other regulatory approaches. Producer-funded programs represent the largest share, indicating a strong regional trend toward assigning financial and operational responsibility to manufacturers. However, a notable portion of programs also incorporate advanced consumer or eco-fees, reflecting cost-sharing models that distribute responsibility between producers and consumers.