Maine receives no bids to run packaging EPR program, delaying rollout

Maine's Department of Environmental Protection received zero proposals in its RFP to select a stewardship organization to administer the state's packaging extended producer responsibility law, leaving the program without an operator. Circular Action Alliance, which runs equivalent programs in six other states, declined to bid, citing misalignment with its operating model and data systems. The DEP said on 11 September 2026 it will revise the RFP, with no new implementation timeline set.

Why this mattersProducers selling packaged goods in Maine face continued uncertainty on registration, reporting and fee obligations, and multistate compliance planning stays unsettled.

• Maine's DEP received no proposals for its RFP to administer the state's packaging EPR program.
• Maine enacted the first statewide packaging EPR law in the US in 2021.
• Six other states (California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington) have since enacted packaging EPR laws.
• Circular Action Alliance, the stewardship organization in those six states, did not submit a bid for Maine's program.
• On 11 September 2026 the DEP emailed stakeholders saying it will revise the RFP, with no timeline yet given.
• An Oregon federal court recently rejected a dormant commerce clause challenge to Oregon's EPR law brought by the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors.

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