This packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) advisory board includes 18 individuals representing a wide range of impacted parties under the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act. Members will review activities conducted by the MPCA and the producer responsibility organization and advise on program implementation.
In filling these positions, the MPCA could not appoint members who are state legislators or registered lobbyists. Members are also not allowed to be employees of a producer required to join the producer responsibility organization (PRO) in Minnesota.
Members serve for a term of four years, except for the initial term (started in 2025) that included nine appointments for two years to stagger the terms. Members may be reappointed but may not serve more than eight consecutive years.
Meetings
This advisory board will meet on a recurring basis throughout the year with a specific schedule and frequency to be determined. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Advisory board meeting
Next meeting of the packaging extended producer responsibility advisory board will take place May 14.
Recent meetings
Members
- Gabrielle Batzko, Stearns County / Tri-County Solid Waste Commission – Organizations of political subdivisions
- Sara Bixby, National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) – Waste hauler or a statewide association
- Townsend Brown, Multistate Associates – Retailers of covered materials or a statewide trade association
- Kristen (Kris) Coperine, Minnesota Composting Council (MNCC) – Waste facility that receives compostable materials for composting or a statewide trade association
- Megan Daum, American Beverage – Manufacturers of covered materials or a statewide or national trade association
- Kate Davenport, Recycling Partnership – Other interested parties
- Mike Griffin, MN Zero Waste Coalition – Community-based nonprofit environmental justice organization
- Sydney Harris, Upstream – Entity that develops or offers for sale covered materials that are designed for reuse or refill (maintained through system/infrastructure) or a statewide or national trade association
- Matthew Herman, Republic Services – Recycling facilities that manage covered materials
- Miriam Holsinger, Eureka Recycling – Recycling facilities that manage covered materials
- Kirk Koudelka, MPCA – MPCA commissioner designee
- Gregory Melkonian, AMERIPEN (Serlin Haley) – Manufacturers of covered materials or a statewide or national trade association
- Shoshana Micon, American Forest & Paper Association – Other interested parties
- Victoria Reinhardt, Ramsey County – Organizations of political subdivisions
- Maggie Schuppert, CURE – Statewide nonprofit environmental organization
- Mac Sellars, r.World – Entity that develops or offers for sale covered materials that are designed for reuse or refill (maintained through system/infrastructure) or a statewide or national trade association
- Jon Steiner, Polk County ESA – Organizations of political subdivisions
- Steve Vrchota, Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management – Waste facility that receives and sorts covered materials and transfers them to another facility for reuse, recycling, or composting