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Costs top the debate: advocates point to municipal budget pressure; researchers cite divergent state and international findings
Summary
Participants debated program costs, consumer impacts and international precedents. Several speakers urged Massachusetts to study multiple cost analyses; others warned administrative costs and program designs can drive significant budget increases in jurisdictions with EPR systems.
Advisory group members identified program cost as a central uncertainty and potential barrier to EPR implementation. Participants pointed to sharp increases in recycling processing costs over recent years, differences in methodology in cost studies, and contrasting experiences in other jurisdictions.
Speakers cited several illustrative findings (as discussed in the meeting): EPA and The Recycling Partnership reported different national recycling-rate figures, while the presentation attributed a spike in processing costs to the combination of China’s 2018 National Sword policy and changing market and operating models for materials recovery facilities. One presenter said tip fees rose dramatically in a short period (the presentation referenced a rise from…
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