The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) still expects producers to pay fees this year under the state's packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) law. However, efforts to contract with a stewardship organization to advance the process have been delayed multiple times.

Previously, the producer responsibility organization selection process was originally scheduled to be completed last year. The updated plan was originally set to solicit bids for a stewardship organization this spring, but it has not yet materialized. Jessica Nadeau of the Maine DEP said in an email this week: "The department expects to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a stewardship organization soon."

Nadeau also noted: "Packaging material producers will be required to register and pay startup fees to the stewardship organization within this year. However, the specific method and timing will depend on when the department contracts with the stewardship organization." She added that once the RFP is issued, the DEP will update its "packaging stewardship program" website, which will include updates to the "expected implementation timeline."

In 2021, Maine became the first state in the nation to pass a packaging EPR law, but since then its progress has lagged behind other states. Oregon and Colorado's programs are already operational, and several states have selected and advanced producer responsibility organizations, while Maine has not yet taken that step.

Maine adopted the final rules for the program in December 2024. In 2025, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed LD 1423, which amended the packaging EPR law; the amendments were passed in February of this year. The amendments clarified the definitions of "producer" and "producer exemptions," as well as provisions on post-consumer recycled materials and toxicity. Packaging industry groups expressed satisfaction, stating that this makes Maine's law more consistent with packaging EPR laws in other states.

Under the current timeline, producers were originally scheduled to register and report 2025 data in May 2026, and receive initial invoices in July 2026. In October 2027, participating municipalities will receive their first reimbursements for 2026 packaging material management.

The Circular Action Alliance (CAA), a producer responsibility organization active in multiple states, said it intends to respond once Maine's RFP is issued. Larine Urbina, CAA's senior vice president of communications, said in an email statement: "In the meantime, CAA encourages producers to continue monitoring the state's latest developments and begin compiling baseline data and internal resources typically required by EPR programs, while recognizing that final requirements will be clarified after the stewardship organization is selected."

In all other states implementing packaging EPR laws, producers are facing a May 31 uniform reporting deadline. These include:

  • In California, producers must submit annual supply reports and annual source reduction reports, both covering 2025 data.
  • In Colorado and Oregon, producers must submit annual supply reports covering 2025 data to support the 2027 programs.
  • In Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington, producers must submit "simplified" pre-program supply reports covering 2025 data.