ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the historical context and status of extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies in the United States and Canada, especially those focusing on end-of-life product management, and comments on the governance process involved in implementing EPR in the two countries. In addition to this nationally negotiated EPR initiative, Canadian provinces began actively pursuing product-focused EPR policies, also using a multi-stakeholder consultative process. In Canada, the terms 'product stewardship' and 'industry product stewardship' are often used interchangeably with EPR'. Canada's westernmost province, British Columbia (BC), has more extensive experience with EPR than any other jurisdiction in North America. Alberta, the province directly to the east of British Columbia, has EPR programmes for beverage containers, tyres, used oil, oil containers and oil filters, and, electronic products. Saskatchewan, the province directly to the east of Alberta, has EPR programmes for beverage containers, used oil, oil containers and filters, and tyres.
