EPR in the Courts: New State Laws and Emerging Legal Challenges

Environmental regulatory attorney Halley Townsend will participate in The United States Conference of Mayors' 2026 Municipal Waste Management Association (MWMA) Fall Summit in Baltimore, Maryland. The annual event brings together municipal solid waste, recycling and sustainability professionals working in cities, counties, and regional authorities and agencies across the U.S. to share trends, best practices and emerging technologies in municipal solid waste (MSW) and recycling. Halley's session will focus on extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging policies. States including California, Oregon and Maine have enacted various EPR laws throughout the past few years, and it is now critical for municipalities to follow these regulations to meet their waste reduction goals. However, as rollout begins, the programs face legal challenges halting their progress. Halley will talk about what to watch as these first-in-the-nation packaging EPR lawsuits move through federal courts as well as discuss what the case outcomes could mean for local governments and the future of EPR municipal programs. Attendees will gain an overview of the litigation landscape for EPR policies as well as opportunities that could emerge in light of potential rulings and changes.