In British Columbia, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach in which the producer's re-sponsibility for reducing environmental impact and managing the product is extended across the whole life cycle of the prod-uct, from selection of materials and design to its end-of-life. EPR shifts responsibility upstream in the product life cycle to the producer (i.e. brand owners, first importers or manufacturers) and away from local governments and taxpayers.

This approach requires producers to collect and recycle leftover or used products as well as consider redesigning these prod-ucts to make them less harmful to the environment and easier to recycle. It is the active role of the producers, retailers and consumers to participate in EPR programs to ensure the proper environmental management of end-of-life products. By utiliz-ing BC's extended producer responsibility programs, we can all help to reduce materials going to the landfill.

For more information on EPR Programs, visit the following links:

• Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility
• Ministry of Environment: Product Stewardship
• British Columbia: Too Good to Waste… A Guide to Product Stewardship
• British Columbia's Recycling Handbook