MassDEP to chair EPR commission; launches midcourse review of 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan

John Fisher, a senior solid waste program staffer at MassDEP, told the Solid Waste Advisory Committee that new legislation directs MassDEP to chair an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Commission and to deliver a report to the legislature by January 2026.

"There was recent legislation chapter 239 of of the acts of 2024 that directed MassDEP to chair an extended producer responsibility commission," Fisher said. The commission will consider five product or packaging categories (paint, mattresses, lithium‑ion batteries, electronics, and plastics/other packaging), convene hybrid public meetings starting with a kickoff in March, and produce material‑specific recommendations on collection, processing, financial responsibility and cost impacts. Fisher said Commissioner Bonnie Heiple will serve as the MassDEP chair for the commission.

Fisher also outlined the midcourse assessment of the agency’s 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan. He said the plan’s 2030 disposal reduction target (a 30% reduction from a 2018 baseline) remains the benchmark, but total disposals rose roughly 9% through 2023. Fisher flagged topics that will receive targeted stakeholder work: whether to pursue a universal ban on organics disposal (organic subcommittee), potential declining CO2 caps or other limits on municipal waste combustors, updates to hazardous household products planning, and additional action plan updates for construction and demolition materials, organics and recycling market development.

Why it matters: an EPR commission could recommend producer‑led financing and collection systems for high‑priority materials, which would change funding and operational responsibilities for product end‑of‑life in Massachusetts. The master plan midcourse review will inform resource and staff prioritization across MassDEP programs and guide future rulemaking and grant emphasis.

Next steps: MassDEP said it will announce EPR commission meeting dates soon, post commission materials to a dedicated website, hold subcommittee meetings on organics and combustion policy, and prepare a master plan review report by the end of 2025.