Introduction
The extended producer responsibility (EPR) refers to a waste management strategy in which the environmental costs are incorporated into the market price of the products responsible or attached to those costs.The main aim of this strategy is to make producers account for the environmental effects of the product throughout their life cycles such that they feel the impact of the environmental damage that result from the product.This strategy insists on recycling of materials in order to reduce the environmental damage.This strategy was meant to shift the cost of managing and recycling to the producers mainly reusing and recycling costs.(Wales,2004).
In my opinion extended user responsibility is essential in ensuring producing of products which are environmentally friendly by ensuring that the producers bears the responsibility of the environmental impact of their products through accounting for both recycling and reusing costs. This helps in ensuring that that the producers reduces the amounts of toxic materials in their material waste in order to reduce the costs they will incur in managing the wastes of their products.(Wales,2004).
This strategy entails extension of liability of the proven environmental damage that results from production to the producers where the extent of liability is determined by the legislation put in place to facilitate the whole process.The economic responsibility is extended to producers through the environmental costs throughout the Lifecycle of the products manufactured.The manufactures are also held responsible for the informative responsibility through campaigns against various poor methods of waste disposal in relation to their end products.The manufactured also bears the responsibity to to engage in the physical management of wastes of the their products in the environment.
The extended user responsibility will help in reducing the environmental damage by discouraging the poor disposal of waste products into the environment. This is implemented through legislative mechanisms both mandatory or voluntary as well as negotiations on the extend of costs that manufacturers should bear. United States of America is among the countries that have implemented the extended producer responsibility in order to address the impacts brought about by the public health and emerging environmental. This has seen manufacturers to contribute towards the total costs of safety disposal and recycling process. For its efficiency the federal lawmakers have enacted lots of laws hence creating an accountability mechanism for a smooth planning and general performances by the manufacturers.
Adoption of the use of extensions of a product life cycle has posed some future positive impact in eradication of hazardous solid waste therefore promoting a public health and a user friendly environment for human coexistence. The other major impact is that it would induce an increase of the product's durability which in other terms would be a greater boost to the economy.
EPR ability to positively facilitate the reduction of environmental shortcomings has strengthened the multinational market share over their overall product Lifecycle. This is evident at scenarios whereby the manufacturer around the globe are relieved the responsibility of the cost incurred during solid waste disposal.
Nationally, this mechanism has been playing a bigger role in the control of the solid waste disposal therefore shifting the cost from the public sector and setting up safety measures. In the global context, participation by other countries in implementing the EPR laws would lead to the positively aggregate effect.
Extended producer responsibility has basically contributed to both national and global positive impact through their practices of monitoring the proper techniques of solid waste disposal. This has seen the international market of manufactured goods to be effective and efficient and also promoting a recommendable public health in a country.
References
New South Wales, & New South Wales (2004). Public consultation report: Extended producer responsibility priority statement 2004. Parramatta, N.S.W: Dept. of Environment and Conservation, Sustainability Programs Division.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2004). Economic aspects of extended producer responsibility. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
