A year of policy, advocacy, and network support
Upstream’s policy team shares 2024 highlights
Upstream’s “Policy Team” is made up of Policy Director Sydney Harris, Reuse Networks Manager Melissa Jung, Local Reuse Manager Macy Zander, and—joining us for 2024—Policy Intern Ximena Coronado. This small, mighty group works on reuse policy and so much more—facilitating learning and collaboration networks like the Reuse Solutions Network; convening and participating in strategic multi-stakeholder forums; providing thought leadership; and supporting local reuse champions, coalitions and groups. Here they are to report back on all they accomplished in 2024.
Sydney was busily engaged across the country this year, educating, advocating and rule-making. Highlights include:
Going back to basics with a livestream on defining reuse in EPR & DRS policy — that’s Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Systems. These definitions then informed much of our work as we submitted comments and testimony on EPR and DRS policies.
Submitting a total of 10 written testimony letters — nine at the state level and one, spearheaded by Macy, at the local level; and providing 15 sets of formal and informal comments to state regulatory agencies to inform the implementation of newly-enacted or updated EPR and DRS laws.
Supporting Minnesota’s packaging EPR law, which became the 5th in the nation and the only one in the country to pass this year.
Helping to update Maine’s food code to ensure returnable reusable packaging is allowable if businesses want to use it.
Informing rulemaking for new EPR laws: In addition to our formal comments, in Oregon we served on the DEQ’s Rulemaking Advisory Committee to inform the drafting of the program’s rules; in California we worked in coordination with dozens of other NGOs, businesses, and other key stakeholders to digest CalRecycle’s proposed rules and shape feedback; in Maine we weighed in as Upstream and also guided the Reuse Maine coalition’s own comments; and in Colorado we provided comments directly to Circular Action Alliance to inform their program plan, which is set to be published early in the new year.
Hiring a lobbyist this year to help us support the strongest possible reuse language in Washington State’s EPR and DRS bills for 2025.
Publishing a recycling vs. reuse matrix, which breaks down in a fun way some of the parallels between these two systems and highlights the many opportunities for operational overlap.
Being appointed to the first Materials Management Task Force of Maine’s Climate Council, which worked hard this year to update Maine’s statewide climate action plan.
Ximena Coronado joined us as Upstream’s first policy intern, learning and growing in the reuse space for 7 months. In her time here she:
Updated and distributed our reuse incentives and grants tracker. With over 200 grant opportunities listed to help fund potential reuse projects across the United States and Canada, we hope the tracker is a valuable resource for the movement.
Managed our reuse policy tracker that focuses on local, state/provincial, and national laws that mandate reuse or source reduction of waste in the US & Canada. To our knowledge, we are the only organization publicly tracking reuse policies. We hope to show how widespread reuse is and that the tracker remains a useful tool for advocates and policymakers. We currently have listed in our tracker 107 reuse laws, which is a 34% increase from what we had recorded last year. These laws impact a population of 26%, which is a 30% increase from what we recorded in 2023.
Wrote a blog on how the current linear economy in the US & Canada depends on single-use and harms both people and the planet, especially marginalized communities exposed to pollution from extractive industries.
The Reuse Solutions Network, expertly managed and facilitated by Melissa Jung, continues to grow and activate change across the US & Canada. This year we:
Hosted 16 Reuse Solutions Network and subgroup meetings, covering topics including reuse and its intersection with the just transition, how to message reuse to different audiences, and municipal foodware policy implementation and enforcement.
Onboarded over 300 new representatives of reuse businesses, NGOs, local organizations, entrepreneurs, and governments to the Reuse Solutions Network and now have over 1,200 people engaged in the reuse conversation—with more signing up every day.
Published a major document created by the Reuse Solutions Network’s Grants Subcommittee that outlines best practices for government agencies interested in launching reuse-focused grant programs.
Launched two new subgroups of the Reuse Solutions Network that ran throughout the year: Conservative States & Provinces and Local Deep Dives. Facilitated by Macy Zander, the former was tailor made for folks living in more challenging policy environments. We highlighted a number of speakers across the US promoting reuse in creative ways without policy and heard from advocates challenging preemption, or bans on bans. The Local Deep Dives subgroup was a space for anyone — reuse coalitions, groups, activists — working to advance reuse at the local level.
With Extended Producer Responsibility laws and bills growing, Mel stepped in and began to learn from and work with Sydney on laying important groundwork with key stakeholders for reuse in these programs. This year she engaged directly in Circular Action Alliance’s stakeholder surveys in Colorado and plans to continue to work in Colorado as well as Minnesota next year.
Macy Zander had a busy year managing the production of resources to help support the movement across sectors, including:
Launching the Reuse For Onsite Dining Library, a collaborative effort featuring over 60 resources contributed by 16 NGOs across the reuse movement. The goal of the library is to be a one-stop-shop hub for anyone looking to advance reuse in onsite settings, via policy or voluntary action.
Producing the Conscious Cafeteria Report in conjunction with Ahimsa, a reusable foodware company. The report analyzes 15 elementary schools across the US that made the transition to Ahima trays (and in some instances, utensils) and dives into the health rationale for shifting away from single use, while providing projected environmental and economic benefits of making the transition.
Continuing to engage and provide support to reuse coalitions and groups across the US & Canada. We launched a pass through funding program for reuse coalitions and groups, and we’re thrilled we were able to provide funds to 13 coalitions.
Additionally, we continue to co-lead three coalitions where staff are based - The Austin Reuse Coalition, Reuse Maine, and the newly formed Reuse Phoenix.
And that’s a wrap! This hard working team is looking forward to continuing the momentum throughout 2025.
