PCB/EPR · HOW-TO

Is Your Industry Category Red, Orange, Green or White? Find Out

Correctly identifying your category is the foundational step every subsequent compliance decision builds on.

5 min read Action Guide By LeegAl Advisory Team

Correctly identifying your category is the foundational step every subsequent compliance decision builds on.

How To Approach This

Review your specific industry activity against the classification criteria used by pollution control boards, which is based on assessed pollution potential rather than company size or revenue.
Consider all aspects of your operations — not just your primary product, but any processing, chemical use, or waste generation involved — since category assessment considers the full activity profile.
If genuinely uncertain about your classification, consulting directly with the relevant state board or an experienced advisor before assuming a category (and potentially under- or over-preparing compliance accordingly) is the safer approach.

Does category classification affect only consent, or EPR too?

Category primarily affects consent (CTE/CTO) requirements; EPR obligations are generally determined separately based on specific product categories.

Can misclassifying my own category cause problems?

Yes, assuming a lower category than actually applies can lead to inadequate compliance preparation and rejection or later regulatory issues.

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