2023 was a banner year for advancements in reuse, especially on the policy front. In the December 14th meeting of Upstream’s Reuse Solutions Network, Policy Director Sydney Harris brought us on a whirlwind tour of all that has happened from local wins to global action. Here are the highlights, starting with a few wins close to home—which primed us for supporting and advancing reuse policy and all other things reuse in 2023 and beyond.

Wins for Upstream

• In August, we hired a new CEO, Crystal Dreisbach, plus a new Reuse Networks Manager, Melissa Jung.

• We restructured our networks and launched the Reuse Solutions Network—which now boasts over 800 participants representing 39 US states and six Canadian provinces.

• We held The Reusies in-person for the first time at GreenBiz’s Circularity 23 in Seattle—where there was a 45% surge in reuse-focused topics conference-wide (and growing!).

• 75+ reuse heroes were featured on Upstream channels, and The Indisposable Podcast hit over 100K downloads!

• During a 3-month beta testing initiative, we supported 8 groups in making the case for reuse using our Chart-Reuse tool.

• We engaged consumer brands through the Reuse Refill Action Forum with OPLN & Meridian.

State Policy Wins

• We published the new Upstream Principles for Reuse in EPR & DRS in February.

• From 53 unique EPR, DRS, and source reduction/reuse bills across 18 states, 11 new laws were passed.

• A major win included ME LD 1909, which updated Maine’s bottle bill. It includes direct funding for reuse and study of reuse targets!

• OR SB 545: directs Oregon Health Authority to update health codes so restaurants may allow customers to bring their own containers for take-out. This law passed along with SB 543, which bans EPS foam foodware, containers, coolers and packaging peanuts, as well as PFAS in food packaging.

• WA HB 1085: Requires bottle filling stations in new construction (where drinking fountains are required); bans over-water structures floating on un-encased foam; and bans single-use personal care containers at hotels and lodging.

• CA SB 622: eliminates an old mandate that licensed cannabis cultivators affix a single-use plastic tag to each individual cannabis plant.

Reuse in Rulemaking

Four existing EPR laws are moving along through the implementation process. Upstream has been involved on various fronts.

• In Maine: we participated in informal rulemaking and stakeholder conversations - with lots of good progress incorporating reuse into Maine’s packaging EPR program through the draft rules.

• In Oregon: Upstream was appointed to the rulemaking advisory committee. There’s a major funding opportunity for reuse in Oregon’s EPR program - up to $10M/year could go to a reuse and waste prevention fund.

• In Colorado: they will be finalizing their Needs Assessment in April, and there is opportunity to establish a case for reuse during that period. Upstream has been in discussions with state agencies.

• In California: We’ve been submitting comments to CalRecycle during their informal rulemaking process for California’s packaging EPR law.

Reuse movement on the Federal level

Congressional Action

• A strengthened Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act was reintroduced.

• Senate hearings on Reuse & Refill were held.

• Behind the scenes, conversations were held around development of a national bottle bill with Senator Merkley (D-OR) and key stakeholders—and so far at least, reuse has successfully been built into the legislative framework.

Agency Announcements

• At April’s Earth Day event in Washington, D.C., which Upstream co-organized alongside WWF, and r.World, agency reps announced the following:

  • President Biden’s Executive Order on Environmental Justice — includes a new Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) on Plastic Pollution & Circular Economy.

  • EPA Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution — which includes commitment to "develop or expand capacity to maximize the reuse of materials."

  • National Park Service 2023 Green Parks Plan — includes a commitment to "phase out single-use plastic products” by the end of 2032.

• The Federal Trade Commission held a public comment period to vet potential updates to their Green Guides. Upstream and many others in the reuse movement submitted comments encouraging the addition of reuse.

• The Dept of Energy put out an RFI seeking information on all things circular economy.

• Environment & Climate Change Canada initiated Pollution Prevention (P2) Planning for primary food plastic packaging

Global & Local Movement

Global Plastics Treaty negotiations continued at INC-2 and INC-3; the Zero Draft was released in the Fall.

Local policy advancements

• Although unfortunately Vancouver (BC) & Bainbridge Island (WA) repealed their single-use cup fees, great momentum in the other direction included…

• The Banff Single-Use Item Reduction Bylaw, including accessories on request and reuse for onsite dining.

• In Calgary, Alberta — “Skip the Stuff,” bag fees (paper & reusable), encouragement of BYO and reusable cups for dine-in.

• In Shoreline, WA — reuse for onsite dining.

• Additional “Skip the Stuff” laws passed in: NYC, Westchester County (NY), Breckenridge (CO), and Newton (MA).

• Many municipalities in Marin County (CA) adopted the County’s Reusable Foodware Ordinance.

• And three more wins since this recording!

  • The Toronto City Council unanimously voted at their December meeting to move forward to the next phase of the Single-Use Reduction Strategy. Congratulations to Reusable Toronto for all their hard work on this initiative.

  • Right before Christmas, Oakland, CA passed a Reuse for Onsite Dining ordinance.

  • AND, Charleston, SC passed their own #SkipTheStuff ordinance!

Whew! While that’s a wrap for 2023, much more is in the pipeline for 2024. You can follow developments on our Policy Tracker anytime, and of course we look forward to updating you throughout the year as reuse continues to gain momentum.