AmericanHort Leads Effort to Navigate New State Plastics Regulations

AmericanHort is working closely with state nursery and landscape association partners to monitor the growing number of state extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and proposals affecting plastic packaging. Seven states — California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington — have enacted packaging EPR programs, while similar policies are under consideration in several others. Spearheaded by Emily Rooney, Executive Director of the California Association of Nurseries, and Jeff Stone, Executive Director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, AmericanHort is working with state partners to share legislative and regulatory updates, compare implementation timelines and fee structures, and better understand how different states are approaching compliance.

This coalition is also bringing together state associations, growers, retailers, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders to evaluate how these policies could affect the horticulture supply chain. Key concerns include potential fees and reporting requirements, limited recycling options for horticultural plastics, and increased costs for pots, trays, containers, and shipping materials.

Through these discussions, AmericanHort and its partners are identifying common challenges, gathering information about how plastics are used throughout the industry, and exploring opportunities for coordinated advocacy that reflects the operational realities of horticulture businesses. If you are interested in joining this working group, please notify Rachel Pick at [email protected].

For continued discussion on the topic, AmericanHort will join the Plastics Recycling roundtable discussion hosted by the Oregon Association of Nurseries at the FarWest Show, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. PST.