EPR Think Tank West Coast

EPR Think Tank West Coast is organized by the American Conference Institute (ACI), a C5 Group company. ACI produces conferences and roundtables focused on timely business, legal, regulatory, and compliance issues for senior decision-makers.

EPR Think Tank West Coast is a forum focused on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging implementation in the United States, with particular attention to West Coast requirements and California’s SB 54. The program brings together regulators, producers, lawyers, sustainability leaders, recycling and policy professionals to address compliance, operational risk, reporting, fees, enforcement, and evolving state requirements.

EPR Think Tank West Coast will take place October 5-6, 2026, at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102. The main conference starts at 8:30 a.m. on October 5, with the registration desk and continental breakfast served at 7:30 a.m. and will conclude at 12:15 p.m. on October 6, followed by a post-conference workshop from 2:00-5:30 p.m.

The conference is designed for professionals responsible for packaging EPR strategy, implementation, compliance, sustainability, product and material compliance, legal and regulatory affairs, packaging, procurement, business operations, and marketing. It is also relevant to regulators, policy professionals, recycling and circularity stakeholders, advisors, and attorneys working with producer responsibility programs.

The program is relevant to organizations affected by consumer goods packaging EPR requirements. The 2026 speaker faculty has representation from consumer goods and manufacturing, recycling and circularity organizations, environmental and regulatory law firms, professional services, public policy organizations, and state government.

This year’s topics include California SB 54 implementation, packaging EPR developments across multiple states, producer reporting, eco-modulation and fee structures, SB 343 recyclability claims and labeling, EPR litigation, recycling infrastructure and PCR supply, enforcement and audits, and source reduction. The program also examines coordination with Producer Responsibility Organizations and the development of scalable multi-state compliance strategies.

Attendees will gain practical guidance on preparing for California’s January 2027 SB 54 implementation, managing reporting and data requirements, forecasting EPR costs, and reducing enforcement and litigation risk. Sessions also address how to build scalable multi-state compliance programs, evaluate packaging and recyclability decisions, strengthen audit readiness, and develop long-term source reduction strategies.

The inaugural faculty includes state regulators, producer compliance and sustainability leaders, recycling and circularity experts, policy professionals, attorneys, and professional services advisors. Speakers bring perspectives from government, consumer goods and manufacturing companies, recycling organizations, policy groups, law firms, and consulting organizations.

Organizations represented on the 2026 faculty include CalRecycle; the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR); EPR Leadership Forum; The Recycling Partnership; Mondelēz International; Andersen Corporation; Ernst & Young LLP; Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; EG Counsel; Thompson Hine LLP; Hogan Lovells Cadwalader International LLP; Beveridge & Diamond PC; Nixon Peabody; and Troutman Pepper Locke.

The agenda includes continental networking breakfasts, morning networking breaks, a networking lunch, and additional opportunities to connect during interactive roundtables and session breaks. Workshop attendees also have a networking luncheon on October 6 before the post-conference workshop.

Yes. Teams of 4-8 from the same organization or firm receive a 10% conference discount, and teams of 9-12 receive a 15% conference discount; groups of more than 12 should call our Customer Experience Team at 1-888-224-2480 or email [email protected]. Team registrations must be from the same organization or firm and must register together in one transaction.

Registrants who register and pay are eligible for a full refund through September 18, 2026. If unable to attend, registrants may choose a full refund or a full credit note for themselves or a colleague to attend another event; all cancellations and changes must be submitted to [email protected] by September 18, 2026.

ACI has arranged a limited number of guest rooms at a negotiated rate at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel. To access the rate, contact the hotel directly at 415-673-6672 and quote “ECWESTCOAST26”; the room block cut-off date is September 4, 2026, and availability and rates cannot be guaranteed after that date or once the block fills.

CLE credit has been approved by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board and the State Bar of California, and the course is identified as nontransitional for CLE accreditation purposes. ACI will seek accreditation in other jurisdictions requested by registrants that have continuing education requirements.