Goodwill Explores Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Revenue Streams Through Waste Audits
Goodwill is actively exploring opportunities to generate revenue from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs by conducting waste characterization studies. This initiative was a key topic at the Goodwill Sustainability Summit in Houston on November 10. Beth Forsberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, highlighted that EPR legislation is expanding across the U.S., with seven states already having packaging EPR laws and 14 more considering them. Dow, a material science company, has funded a pilot program called GoodFlex, which involves a waste audit in Arizona to analyze the volume and types of plastic bags received with textile donations. The goal is to develop financial models and feasibility analyses for a revenue diversification program, potentially scaling this recovery effort nationally, especially in states with existing EPR laws like California and Colorado. This move positions Goodwill to become a significant recovery partner ...
