Packaging rule · United States · EPR
Maine Stewardship Program for Packaging (EPR)
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) rule covering all packaging in Maine, United States, set by Maine Legislature / Maine DEP. Adopted, not yet applying.
The rule
Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.
- Jurisdiction
- United States · Maine
- Authority
- Maine Legislature / Maine DEP
- Rule type
- EPR
- Materials
- All packaging
- Status
- Adopted, not yet applying Enacted
- Adopted or published
- 20 August 2026
From the source“Stewardship Organization RFP-202605094 Announcement: No Proposals Submitted as of Deadline.”
Official source Maine DEP: Stewardship Program for PackagingOfficial (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026
Key dates
Adopted or published 1 month ago
Source consulted by the SPI team today
Re-checked by a second SPI team member today
What it means
SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.
SPI summary
Maine law 38 M.R.S. §2146 makes packaging producers fund municipal recycling through a stewardship organization. The program rule (Chapter 428) was adopted in December 2024 and amended in March 2026. No stewardship organization is under contract: a 2026 RFP received no proposals (announced 20 August 2026) and on 11 September 2026 DEP announced it will revise the RFP. First payment dates are not set.
In practice
Maine's packaging EPR law (38 M.R.S. §2146) will make producers fund municipal recycling through a stewardship organisation, with registration, tonnage reporting and material-specific fees. Chapter 428 is in place, but the 2026 request for proposals drew no bids and on 11 September 2026 DEP announced it will revise it. Until a contract is signed and a revised schedule posted, there are no live deadlines.
Who is in scope
- Producers of packaging for products sold in or into Maine, including retailers that meet the statutory producer definition (DEP FAQ)
- Producers under 15 tons a year: simplified reporting and a flat $500 per ton fee (not an exemption)
Who is not
- Producers under $2,000,000 gross annual revenue in the first three years of the contract, under $5,000,000 from year four
- Producers using under one ton of packaging for Maine sales, or with over 50% of revenue from salvage, closeouts or liquidations
- The first 15 tons of packaging for perishable food
- Long-term storage packaging for durable products, and bottle bill beverage containers (33 M.R.S. §3102)
- Architectural paint packaging in a stewardship programme meeting DEP's stated recycling condition
What to do and by when
- NowCheck whether you are a Maine producer and whether an exemption applies.
- NowMap Maine packaging tonnage to the Chapter 428 Appendix A material types list.
- When DEP posts the revised scheduleTrack the revised RFP and contract award.
- Within 90 days of the SO opening registrationPlan to register with the stewardship organisation.
- When the stewardship contract is signedBudget for the annual cycle: reports 31 May, invoices 1 July, payment 1 September.
Related rules
- PR-US-002 Oregon Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (SB 582)
Oregon's 2021 EPR law already collects producer fees. - PR-US-003 Colorado Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling (HB22-1355)
Colorado's programme collects dues from January 2026. - PR-US-006 Minnesota Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act
Minnesota phases in municipal cost reimbursement from 2029. - PR-US-007 Maryland packaging and paper products producer responsibility (SB 901)
Maryland uses the same $2,000,000 and one-ton thresholds.
Where the record is unclear
- DEP is reassessing the schedule, so first registration, reporting and payment dates are not set.
- Timing and content of the revised RFP are not stated.
- The exact July 2021 passage date and the June 2025 law changes are not detailed on the DEP page.
Sources for this note
- Maine DEP: Stewardship Program for Packaging Consulted 13 October 2026
Note written by the SPI team on 13 October 2026.
Where it sits in the tracker
- One of 13 packaging rules we track in the United States, of which 7 are EPR rules.
- In all, 25 EPR rules are tracked across 15 jurisdictions. Compare them below
Company profiles that map to this rule
Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.
Change history
Verified: a second SPI team member re-checked every fact above against the source on 13 October 2026. Any later change to the facts sends the rule back to Sourced and is logged here.
Verified by a second SPI team member
Changed: SPI summary, rate note
Added to the tracker
Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-US-001 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.
EPR rules elsewhere
The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.
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