News

March 1, 2026 - The NLCRC has released a comprehensive position paper outlining verification pathways for PCR content in HDPE lubricant bottles. This high-level briefing addresses key issues, risks, and recommendations shaping this evolving regulatory landscape.

February 12, 2026 - The NLCRC supports the Recycling Leadership Council’s sponsorship of the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (RMAA), a commonsense technical fix to modernize our federal recycling marketing rules. This technical fix will help address plastic waste, build consumer trust, strengthen supply chains, and increase recycling nationwide.

September 23, 2025 - The NLCRC welcomes Highline Warren as it’s newest member. Highline Warren’s unique position in the automotive aftermarket industry will strengthen NLCRC’s mission to accelerate sustainable packing recycling solutions for lubricant and related products.

March 17, 2025- The NLCRC welcomes Omni Industries, LLC as its newest member, further strengthening its mission to accelerate sustainable packaging recycling solutions for lubricants and related products.

February 10, 2025- Unlike other packaging waste, lubricant bottles represent a small fraction of the overall recycling stream, limiting their priority in broader municipal programs. Alternative collection and recycling methods beyond curbside programs are necessary to address this gap.

January 27, 2025 - Single-use motor oil containers, including pigmented HDPE bottles and multi-layer bag-in-box formats, are difficult to recycle due to oil contamination and complex materials, causing many of the roughly 90,000 tons sold in the U.S. in 2023 to end up in landfills. Addressing this challenge requires improved packaging design, stronger recycling infrastructure, and industry collaboration—efforts being advanced through new state EPR regulations and the support of the NLCRC.

December 2, 2024 - Canada’s EPR programs—first launched in British Columbia in 2014 and now adopted across all provinces—have achieved strong results, including a 56% recovery rate for rigid plastics and reduced landfill waste and municipal costs. During the NLCRC’s 2024 fall meeting in Montreal, members toured Canada’s lubricant container recycling system firsthand, gaining valuable insights into the collaboration and long-term investment needed as U.S. companies prepare for EPR reporting deadlines.

November 4, 2024 - EPR laws require Brand Owners to manage and finance the end-of-life collection and recycling of their packaging, with obligations and reporting requirements varying by state. To comply, companies must track and report detailed packaging data—such as material type, weight, recycled content, and sales volumes—often across multiple states, making strong data management, regulatory monitoring, and communication systems essential.

October 21, 2024 - EPR shifts the responsibility for managing post-consumer packaging to producers—typically brand owners—who must finance and ensure proper collection and recycling, though definitions and requirements vary by state. Because private packagers support Brand Owners in meeting these obligations, collaboration on sustainable design and compliance is essential.

October 7, 2024 - As EPR packaging laws expand across several U.S. states, Producers need to keep in mind that these laws influence every stage of the packaging value chain—from material sourcing and design to distribution and end-of-life management—encouraging more sustainable, recyclable packaging while promoting a circular economy.

September 23, 2024 - In response to an uptick in states issuing EPR bills, the NLCRC has strengthened its EPR-focused initiatives and supported the creation of the Lubricant Packaging Management Association (LPMA) to help lubricant brand owners navigate compliance and advance more efficient, circular recycling solutions.

September 9, 2024 - EPR regulations shift the cost and responsibility of post-consumer packaging management from local governments to Producers, who must pay state-based fees based on the amount of packaging they sell. While the definition varies by state, a “Producer” generally refers to the Brand Owner, manufacturer, or entity that first brings a packaged product into a state, making them legally responsible for compliance through state-approved Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs).

August 26, 2024 - Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach that shifts the responsibility for managing post-consumer packaging collection, logistics, and recycling from local governments to the Producers. EPR laws mandate that Producers pay fees based on the total amount of their distributed (sold) packaging. To manage compliance with this initiative, state-approved Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) are tasked with collecting these fees and using them to improve recycling infrastructure.