Massachusetts Packaging EPR: Pending Legislation

● Pending LegislationMomentum: Medium momentum
Not enacted. Massachusetts has no active packaging EPR program. No producer registration, reporting, or fees apply today. This page tracks the bill's status so producers can plan ahead.

Massachusetts is weighing packaging EPR through SB 571 and the broader omnibus S.3050, which passed the Senate 36 to 3. In 2026 the state's EPR Commission recommended a formal needs assessment first and did not endorse SB 571, so the full producer-responsibility bill faces a more cautious path than a straight floor vote. Massachusetts packaging EPR is not enacted, so no producer obligations or fees apply today. A reintroduction is possible in 2027 after the assessment, with MassDEP as the oversight agency and fees, if enacted, likely beginning around 2028 or 2029.

Legislative progress

Introduced
In committee
Passed one chamber
Passed both chambers
Enacted

Momentum is EPR Atlas's editorial read of legislative likelihood, not a prediction of passage.

Current status

Bills in play
  • SB 571: full EPR bill
  • S.3050: omnibus, passed Senate 36-3
Last action2026: EPR Commission recommends a needs assessment first
Next action2027: Possible reintroduction post-assessment

Key facts

Governing bill
Status
Pending (not enacted)
Projected fee start
2028–2029 if enacted
Oversight agency
MassDEP
De minimis
Not yet set (bill not enacted)

Timeline

2025
S.3050 passed Senate 36–3
2026
EPR Commission: recommends needs assessment; does not endorse SB 571
2027
Possible reintroduction post-assessment
2028–29
Possible enactment

Frequently asked questions

Is packaging EPR law in effect in Massachusetts?
No. It is pending. The 2026 EPR Commission recommended a needs assessment first and did not endorse the full bill, so no producer obligations or fees apply today.
What are SB 571 and S.3050 in Massachusetts?
SB 571 is the full packaging EPR bill. S.3050 is a broader omnibus that passed the Senate 36 to 3. The EPR-specific bill faces a more cautious path pending a needs assessment.
Which agency would administer Massachusetts EPR?
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

What this means for producers

There are no Massachusetts EPR obligations or fees today. Producers already reporting in the enacted states (California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington) can monitor Massachusetts here and fold it into multi-state planning if it advances. Track live status, fee schedules, and deadlines for the enacted states on the EPR Atlas hub, compare programs on the EPR Laws by State page, and estimate exposure with the EPR Fee Calculator.