Circular Action Alliance (CAA), the leading Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) in the United States, continues to expand its impact on sustainable packaging and recycling reform with two major milestones in early 2025: confirmation as the official PRO for Minnesota and the approval of the nation’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program Plan in Oregon.
Minnesota Confirms CAA as Official PRO
In a pivotal step toward implementing the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has formally confirmed Circular Action Alliance as the state’s designated PRO. This makes Minnesota the third U.S. state to select CAA to lead its EPR efforts, following earlier approvals in California and Colorado.
As PRO, CAA will work closely with producers to develop and implement comprehensive waste management programs. These efforts include:
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Creating plans for collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of packaging materials
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Providing technical assistance and resources to producers
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Collecting producer fees to cover no less than 90% of system costs by 2031
“Being confirmed by the MPCA reflects our readiness to support Minnesota’s sustainability goals,” said Jeff Fielkow, CEO of CAA. “We’re leveraging the experience and infrastructure we’ve built across other states to immediately deliver value and scale best practices.”
Oregon Approves Nation’s First EPR Program Plan
Meanwhile, Oregon has become the first U.S. state to formally approve an EPR Program Plan for packaging, paper, and food serviceware under the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (RMA). The plan, developed and submitted by CAA, represents a transformative approach to reducing plastic pollution, modernizing recycling infrastructure, and fostering equity in access to recycling services.
Key objectives of the Oregon EPR plan include:
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Expanding access to recycling in rural and underserved communities
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Modernizing recycling facilities to increase efficiency and recovery rates
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Launching education campaigns to improve waste separation habits
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Strengthening collaboration between producers, municipalities, and recycling providers
“With the plan’s approval, Oregon is paving the way for a smarter, more sustainable recycling future,” said Kim Homes, Executive Director for CAA Oregon. “We’re ready to implement this groundbreaking system starting July 1, 2025.”
A National Model for Circularity
Together, these developments highlight CAA’s growing role in transforming waste management in the U.S. As the first and only PRO currently active across multiple states—including California, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, and Maryland—CAA is shaping the future of extended producer responsibility.
By working with public agencies, private producers, and local communities, CAA is advancing the circular economy and helping states build systems that are:
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Environmentally effective
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Financially responsible
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Socially inclusive
These milestones in Minnesota and Oregon offer a scalable blueprint for other states looking to modernize their recycling ecosystems and reduce packaging waste.
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