Materials covered
- Plastic, glass, metal, paper, and multi-material packaging
- Cosmetic primary and secondary packaging
- Shipping and e-commerce packaging
Packaging EPRME
Maine packaging producer responsibility
LD 1541 — Stewardship Program for Packaging, 38 M.R.S. §2146 (2021)
Maine's Stewardship Program for Packaging (LD 1541, Public Law 2021, chapter 455; 38 M.R.S. §2146) was the first US packaging EPR law. Producers will pay fees to a stewardship organization that reimburses municipalities, but Maine has not contracted one: DEP's request for proposals drew no proposals by its August 2026 deadline, and DEP is revising it. Producers register within 90 days of the stewardship organization opening registration, so until then there is nothing to register, report or pay in Maine.
Last updated:
- Producer Responsibility Organization
- None yet
Who is a producer in Maine?
The brand whose name is on the product, or the licensee/manufacturer if no brand owner is established in the US. Producers under $2M in annual gross revenue or under 1 ton of packaging are exempt.
Producer obligations
- Nothing to register, report or pay yet: Maine has no stewardship organization
- Register with the stewardship organization within 90 days of it opening registration
- Then report packaging and pay fees as the program sets them
Compliance timeline
- Active
Statute signed
Maine became the first US state to enact a packaging EPR program.
- Active
No proposals received
DEP's request for proposals for a stewardship organization closed with no proposals submitted.
- Active
Request for proposals being revised
DEP announced it is revising the request for proposals; it will set a new implementation schedule with the organization it selects.
- Upcoming
Stewardship organization contracted
Producer registration opens once a stewardship organization is in place; producers then have 90 days to register.
How Cosmetica helps
Cosmetica coverage for Maine
Cosmetica follows Maine's program and will add Maine reporting once a stewardship organization sets its requirements. Until then it opens no Maine registration and builds no Maine filing.
Primary sources
- Maine DEP — Stewardship Program for Packaging
- DEP: no stewardship organization proposals received (August 2026)
- DEP: request for proposals being revised (September 2026)
- 38 M.R.S. §2146
- LD 1541 (130th Legislature)
EPR statutes and rules are evolving. Verify the latest dates, fee schedules, and de minimis thresholds with the state agency before relying on this summary for compliance decisions.