Sustainability In Your Ear: Colorado’s First-Of-Its-Kind EPR Oil Recycling Program With David Lawes

David Lawes, CEO of the Lubricants Packaging Management Association (LPMA), is leading a groundbreaking initiative in Colorado that could become a national model for extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the motor oil industry. With Americans disposing of approximately 1.3 billion gallons of used motor oil annually, but only about 800 million gallons being recycled, there is a pressing need for more sustainable practices in the industry.

Most of the recycled oil is burned as fuel rather than re-refined into new oil, and the plastic packaging oil comes in poses additional challenges. Many curbside recycling programs do not accept these containers due to the risk of residual oil contaminating other recyclables. This is where extended producer responsibility laws come into play, requiring companies to take responsibility for recycling their products and packaging.

In September 2024, five major oil companies—BP Lubricants, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and Valvoline—came together to form the LPMA as an independent producer responsibility organization. Colorado presented producers with a choice: join the Circular Action Alliance, which manages all packaging and printed paper recycling in the state, or develop their own sector-specific program. LPMA opted for the latter, emphasizing the need for specialized handling of petroleum packaging.

David Lawes, with his extensive experience in EPR policy, including a decade regulating programs in Canada, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. The program he oversaw in British Columbia achieved an impressive 96% recycling rate for oil containers, a stark contrast to the less than 1% rate in most U.S. states. Lawes stresses the importance of achieving results in an industry-friendly manner, rather than seeking loopholes in the law.

If Colorado’s model proves successful, it could pave the way for similar EPR programs nationwide. Discussions are underway on why petroleum packaging requires specialized handling, the lessons that can be learned from Canada’s EPR system, and the potential need for national recycling standards to streamline the patchwork of state regulations. To learn more about the LPMA and their initiatives, visit interchange360.com.

This innovative approach to EPR in the motor oil industry has the potential to revolutionize recycling practices and promote sustainability on a larger scale. David Lawes and the LPMA are at the forefront of this movement, setting a new standard for responsible waste management in the industry.