Recycling Reimagined: The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Building a Cleaner PNG
Across the globe, waste management is evolving. From bustling cities to remote islands, the question is the same: Who should take responsibility for the mountains of packaging waste we generate?
In Papua New Guinea, where the pressure of urbanization and consumerism meets rich biodiversity, the need for bold, systemic change has never been greater. Enter: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) — a model that turns the traditional waste chain on its head and demands that those who make the mess, help clean it up.
♻️ What is EPR, and Why Does it Matter?
At its core, Extended Producer Responsibility is an environmental policy approach that holds producers (manufacturers, importers, and brand owners) legally and financially responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, especially what happens after use.
This includes:
- Collection of post-consumer waste
- Recycling and recovery targets
- Funding infrastructure and outreach
- Designing products that are easier to recycle or reuse
Rather than letting governments and communities carry the burden of cleanup, EPR shifts the responsibility back to the source—to the very companies whose packaging floods our shops, kiosks, and homes every day.
🌍 The Man Behind the Model: Dr. Casper Durandt
When it comes to Extended Producer Responsibility, one name echoes across industry corridors and policy boardrooms: Dr. Casper Durandt. Often referred to as a global thought leader and the “father of EPR” in many circles, Dr. Durandt’s decades of work in sustainable packaging, beverage recovery, and circular economy frameworks have laid the foundation for how EPR is implemented today.
Formerly the Chairperson of PETCO South Africa, and head of Coca-Cola’s Sustainability Platform for Africa, Dr. Durandt has worked closely with governments, recyclers, and corporations to build mandatory and voluntary EPR models that drive real-world results.
“EPR isn’t about punishment,” Dr. Durandt has often said. “It’s about accountability. About creating a system where value is retained, waste is minimized, and brand owners play an active role in recovery.”
His work has informed national legislation in multiple African countries and contributed to global best practices recognized by the OECD, World Bank, and UN Environment Programme.
If Papua New Guinea is to build a resilient, modern waste economy, it would be wise to draw from the Durandt playbook.
Why PNG Needs EPR Now
In PNG, where litter chokes waterways and plastic waste lines roadsides, the burden of cleanup cannot fall on municipalities and communities alone.
While companies continue to profit from mass-produced, single-use packaging, the cost of its disposal falls squarely on local councils, under-resourced waste workers, and citizens.
EPR offers a real solution:
✅ It formalizes recycling systems
✅ Brings in private sector funding
✅ Encourages eco-design of packaging
✅ Supports local jobs through collectors and processors
✅ Reduces landfill pressure and marine pollution
💡 What Does EPR Look Like in Practice?
Imagine this:
A soft drink company sells 10 million PET bottles in PNG this year. Under an EPR scheme, they would be:
- Legally required to track and report volumes placed on the market
- Pay an EPR levy per unit sold (used to fund collection and recycling)
- Contribute to the establishment of collection points and processing hubs
- Ensure public awareness campaigns are run in their name
This means more bins, more buy-back centers, more community jobs, and fewer bottles in our rivers.
Companies could fulfill their EPR obligations directly, or join a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)—a collective non-profit that manages recovery targets on behalf of its members.
🏢 Brand Owners: Time to Step Up
EPR isn’t just about compliance—it’s about leadership. It’s a chance for brands in PNG to prove their commitment to environmental stewardship, by:
- Sponsoring waste infrastructure (bins, trucks, balers)
- Funding community collection programs
- Co-branding awareness campaigns
- Participating in product redesign for recyclability
The global trend is clear: countries with EPR see higher recycling rates, cleaner cities, and better waste tracking.
🚀 Bilum Eco Solutions and EPR in PNG
At Bilum Eco Solutions, we see EPR not as a threat to business, but as a golden opportunity. It complements our mission to turn waste into opportunity by creating predictable funding streams, better infrastructure, and more engaged citizens.
We’re calling on brand owners, importers, and manufacturers to partner with us in designing a local EPR model that works for PNG’s people, environment, and economy.
Because waste isn’t just a problem—it’s a product waiting for purpose.
📣 Let’s Lead the Change
As Dr. Durandt has said in numerous forums:
“EPR is the lever that turns the recycling wheel faster. But it only works if industry stops running from the wheel and starts pushing it forward.”
Now is the time for PNG’s producers to push.
Let’s build an EPR system rooted in fairness, community, and responsibility. Let’s fund a better future with the products we sell today.
