Short answer: Packaging EPR fees are charged per pound of packaging you supply into each state, at a rate set by material. Circular Action Alliance published 2027 rates on October 1, 2026 for California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington. Common consumer packaging for beauty, food, beverage, supplement and household brands runs from about 0 to 78 cents per pound, and California adds 29 cents per pound on plastic plus a small per unit charge. A brand shipping 100,000 glass serum bottles into California would owe roughly $1,092 a year.
How packaging EPR fees are calculated
Every state program with live fees uses the same core formula:
Fee = units supplied into the state × packaging weight per unit × the rate for that material.
Each component is priced separately. A serum with a glass bottle, a plastic pump and a paperboard carton has three lines, each at its own rate. Hard to recycle materials such as multi material pouches, pumps and small plastic parts carry the highest rates, while widely recycled materials such as glass, cardboard and aluminum carry the lowest. That is why the same product can cost very different amounts from state to state.
2027 EPR fee rates by state
These are the 2027 rates for the packaging most consumer brands use. Full schedules list 60 to 100 categories per state.
| Packaging | California | Oregon | Colorado | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass bottles and jars | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0.2 |
| PET bottles, clear | 12 | 19 | 18 | 1.1 |
| PET bottles, colored | 13 | 53 | 42 | 1.1 |
| HDPE bottles, natural | 10 | −4 | 22 | 1.1 |
| HDPE bottles, colored | 13 | 20 | 27 | 1.1 |
| PP bottles and jars | 16 | 21 | 21 | 1.1 |
| Small plastic caps (2 in or less) | 19 | 41 | 66 | 1.1 |
| Mixed plastic pumps and sprayers | 26 | 44 | 77 | 1.1 |
| PP film, labels and shrink bands | 27 | 56 | 69 | 2.5 |
| Multi material pouches | 25 | 56 | 78 | 2.5 |
| Paperboard cartons | 2 | 5 | 9 | 0.5 |
| Corrugated boxes | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0.5 |
| Aluminum cans and bottles | 1 | −9 | 5 | 0.9 |
Negative rates in Oregon mean those materials earn a credit against your fees. Oregon and Colorado also offer optional flat fees for producers supplying 10 tons or less, starting at $700 in Oregon and $900 in Colorado.
Small producer exemptions: do you owe EPR fees at all?
Many smaller brands owe nothing in some states. The calculator checks these thresholds automatically when you add your revenue.
| State | Revenue test | Volume test |
|---|---|---|
| California | Under $1 million in gross annual sales, by application in PEPRS | None |
| Oregon | Under $5 million global gross revenue | Under 1 ton supplied into Oregon |
| Colorado | Under $5,506,200 gross revenue | Under 1 ton of covered materials |
| Washington | Under $5 million global gross revenue | Under 1 ton of covered materials |
Most fee calculators price every pound as covered, which overstates costs for smaller brands. Ours shows which states are likely exempt so the number reflects what you would actually pay.
California SB 54 fees in 2027
California charges three things. The base fee by material category, a Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund charge of 26 cents per pound on plastic components plus 0.1 cents per plastic component, and a reuse investment charge of 3 cents per pound on plastic. All three are preliminary until CalRecycle approves CAA's program plan, with the 75 day review running to about December 27, 2026. See our CAA program plan explainer.
On plastic components, the extra 29 cents per pound is usually larger than the base rate itself. In the serum example below, plastic charges are $484 of the $1,092 total even though the pump is the lightest component.
Example: what a 30 ml serum costs in California
| Component | Weight | Annual pounds | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass bottle | 48 g | 10,582 lb | 2¢/lb |
| Plastic pump | 6 g | 1,323 lb | 26¢/lb + 29¢/lb plastic charges + 0.1¢/unit |
| Paperboard carton | 12 g | 2,646 lb | 2¢/lb |
Estimated total: about $1,092 a year, of which $608 is base fees and $484 is plastic charges. Try your own products in the calculator above.
Oregon, Colorado and Washington fees
- Oregon has charged fees since July 2025. 2027 rates range from credits on aluminum and natural HDPE bottles to 83 cents per pound on ceramics.
- Colorado calls them dues, invoiced 50% in January and 50% in July 2027. Its rates are the highest of the four, up to $2.09 per pound on foam polystyrene.
- Washington charges early fees in 2027 to fund program startup, from 0.2 to 3 cents per pound across eight broad categories. Full program fees come later.
What this calculator does not include
- Maryland, Minnesota and Maine, which have not set producer fees yet.
- Eco modulation bonuses and penalties applied from your reported data, and any state agency or administrative charges billed separately.
- Exemptions, small producer thresholds and producer status, which decide whether you owe anything at all. Start with the free exposure check.
Turn an estimate into a number finance can use
Estimates are only as good as the weights behind them. Most brands are missing component weights and materials for a share of their SKUs. The EPR Readiness & Data Assessment (from $1,000) identifies the gaps, and managed service collects the missing specs from your suppliers and builds the fee forecast from real data. See how EPR fees work in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
Are small brands exempt from EPR fees?
Often, in some states. Oregon and Washington exempt producers under $5 million in global gross revenue or under 1 ton of covered packaging. Colorado uses about $5.5 million and 1 ton. California exempts producers under $1 million in gross annual sales who apply through PEPRS. Some exemptions still require registration or an application.
How much are packaging EPR fees?
It depends on how much packaging you supply and what it is made of. 2027 rates for common consumer packaging range from about 0 to 78 cents per pound, and California adds 29 cents per pound on plastic. A brand shipping 100,000 glass serum bottles into California would owe roughly $1,092 a year.
How are EPR fees calculated?
Units supplied into the state, times the weight of each packaging component, times the rate for that component's material. Each component of a product is priced separately.
When were the 2027 EPR fee schedules published?
Circular Action Alliance published 2027 schedules for California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington on October 1, 2026.
Are California SB 54 fees final?
No. California's 2027 rates are preliminary and non binding until CalRecycle approves CAA's program plan. CalRecycle's 75 day review runs to about December 27, 2026.
Is there a flat fee for small producers?
Oregon and Colorado offer optional flat fees for producers supplying 10 tons or less of covered packaging. Oregon's tiers run from $700 to $3,100 and Colorado's from $900 to $4,100.
Do Maryland, Minnesota and Maine charge EPR fees yet?
Not yet. Those programs are still building their plans and have not published producer fee schedules.
Official sources
- Oregon DEQ exemptions FAQ
- CalRecycle exemptions and exclusions
- Washington SB 5284
- Colorado CDPHE producer responsibility program
- CAA 2027 California producer fee schedule
- CAA 2027 Oregon producer fee schedule
- CAA 2027 Colorado producer dues schedule
- CAA Washington 2027 early fees
- CalRecycle SB 54 Packaging EPR