EPR Laws in 2026: Packaging Fees by State and What to Budget
Extended Producer Responsibility fees are now live in five states. Here's a fee-by-fee breakdown and how mycelium changes the math.
EPR went from theory to invoice
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shifts the cost of end-of-life packaging from municipalities onto the brands that put it on the shelf. As of 2026, five US states are billing producers directly.
State-by-state fees (2026)
- California (SB 54): $0.12–$0.28 per unit of non-recyclable packaging
- Oregon (SB 582): $0.08–$0.22 per unit
- Colorado (HB 22-1355): $0.10–$0.25 per unit
- Maine (LD 1541): $0.15–$0.30 per unit
- Minnesota (HF 3577): phased in by 2027
EPS foam is rated "hard to recycle" in every active program, landing brands at the top of the fee bracket.
What mycelium does to the bill
Mycelium is certified compostable, which most state programs treat as a fee exemption or steep discount. A brand shipping 100,000 units annually into California pays roughly $24,000/year in EPR fees with EPS. With mycelium, that drops below $2,000.
Hidden cost: reporting
Every EPR state requires quarterly reporting of packaging weight, material type, and recyclability. Cerda provides packaging EPR data sheets for every order at no charge — most foam suppliers do not.
Next quarter's procurement review
If your CFO hasn't modeled EPR exposure for FY26, that's the conversation to lead with. Request a sample insert from Cerda and we'll attach a free per-unit EPR impact calculator for your top 3 SKUs.
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