Product Stewardship and the Precautionary Principle

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Product Stewardship and the PrecautionaryPrincipl
e

• SF Department of the Environment

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SFE Overview

• .

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Product Stewardship

• San Francisco has been very active over the past
  20 years
• Many different local initiatives that have
  resulted in effective programs throughout San
  Francisco
• San Francisco has also been active statewide and
  nationally advocating for extended producer
  responsibility policies

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History

• Long SF history of promoting toxics reduction and
  proper HHW handling - first HHWF in CA
• Learned from British Columbia and Northwest
  Product Stewardship Council formation
• Worked with Product Stewardship Institute
• Advocated locally on individual campaigns
• Joined effort to create California Product
  Stewardship Council, it has been a great step
• Adopt neighboring jurisdictions

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Examples

• Paint take-back in place for over 20 years
• 100 retail locations taking batteries
• 35 taking CFLs
• 70 needles drop-off locations
• Effective mercury thermometer exchanges
• Most are small retail, hardware and pharmacy type
  stores where space is at a premium
• Shows the big box stores and manufacturers that
  it can be done, and that residents use it
• No excuse if Mom and Pop in SF can do it with
  no space, displaces other products, on their own
  staff time
• As locations increase HHWF stays constant, no
  drop

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The Precautionary Approach

• It is NOT sufficient to ask
• Is it legal?
• Is it safe?
• We also MUST ask
• Is it necessary?

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How long do we wait, how much harm do we
allow,before taking action?
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The Precautionary Principle

• ? Zero risk
• ? Zero science
• ? Loss of jobs
• ? Predetermined outcome (i.e. ban)

• Minimize harm
• Maximize info./science
• Increase innovation
• Transparent Process for public decision making

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So that when we ask

• It is legal?
• Confident our laws are protective of all life
• Is it safe?
• Sufficient data and testing so that we understand
  how a chemical interacts within organisms and
  ecosystems
• Is it necessary?
• Affected communities are at the table, we are all
  empowered to examine all the alternatives, and to
  choose those that minimize harm

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The Precautionary Principle

• Adopted in 2006
• Incorporated as part of the Environmental Code
  in SF

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SF bans Bpa in baby bottles Retailers answer
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Other examples of, Is is necessary?

• Plastic bags
• Water bottles
• Artificial Turf
• Energy efficient lighting that contains mercury

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Contact

• Marjaneh Zarrehparvar
• 415-355-3756
• marjaneh.zarrehparvar_at_sfgov.org
• Debbie Raphael
• 415-355-3711
• debbie.raphael_at_sfgov.org