Methodology
How this calculator works.
The calculator quantifies the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fee component of switching from rigid plastic, multilayer flexible, EPS-cushioned, or polycoated paper packaging to Paper Tube Co. paper tubes. Every dollar number traces back to a published 2026 producer-fee schedule or to an explicitly cited projection.
Two states currently have published 2026 producer-fee schedules: Oregon (CAA-OR, effective with the program-year-2026 invoicing cycle) and Colorado (CAA-CO, ditto). Five more states have enacted EPR programs and will publish schedules between 2027 and 2030 — for those, the calculator projects fees at 80% of Oregon’s published schedule until the state publishes its own.
The calculator math is a pure function of four inputs (current material, annual unit volume, unit weight, % sales into EPR-active states) and a small set of cited tunables: per-state per-material base fees, per-state population shares (US Census 2024), and the projection schedule fraction.
Every value below is editable by a Paper Tube Co. admin via the admin panel. Each edit writes an audit log entry that is kept indefinitely. The methodology page is regenerated automatically on every settings change — so the documentation you’re reading reflects the values the calculator is using right now.
Last value updated: May 13, 2026.
Paper Tube product specs
Default unit weight by size, material composition, PCR content. The Paper Tube Co. side of every comparison.
Paper tube material key
paper-tube
Identifies which entry in the material registry represents the Paper Tube Co. alternative. Must match a key from MATERIAL_KEYS in code.
Comparison materials
Per-material assumptions for the four comparison formats — rigid plastic, multilayer flexible, EPS-protected, polycoated paper. Unit weight, base fee, eco-modulation tier, recyclability rate.
Display label — rigid plastic tube
Rigid plastic tube or canister (PP, PET, HDPE)
Label shown in the calculator's current-material dropdown.
Display label — multilayer flexible
Multilayer flexible film or pouch
Label shown in the calculator's current-material dropdown.
Display label — EPS-protected
EPS-protected rigid container
Label shown in the calculator's current-material dropdown.
Display label — polycoated paper
Polycoated paper carton
Label shown in the calculator's current-material dropdown.
Display label — paper tube
Paper Tube Co. paper tube
Label shown alongside Paper Tube Co. alternative numbers.
Display label — glass container
Glass bottle or jar
Label shown in the calculator's current-material dropdown.
Display label — metal can
Aluminum or steel can
Label shown in the calculator's current-material dropdown. Covers aluminum and steel can formats; fees are seeded against the aluminum rate (the more common consumer-packaging case).
Display label — Other
Other — describe in the request form
Label shown when a prospect's packaging doesn't fit the named categories. The calculator uses a midpoint blend; the submission captures the prospect's description so the sales team can follow up with a precise analysis.
State fee schedules
Per-state, per-material-category fee schedules across the seven enacted EPR programs. Values cite the originating producer-fee schedule.
Oregon — state metadata
{"code":"OR","name":"Oregon","isEnacted":true,"enactmentYear":2024,"populationShare":0.0128}
Oregon Recycling Modernization Act. Program live with published fee schedule; CAA-OR is the PRO.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per OR SB 582 program-year-1 cycle. CAA-OR program page: https://circularactionalliance.org/oregon (accessed 2026-05-13).
Colorado — state metadata
{"code":"CO","name":"Colorado","isEnacted":true,"enactmentYear":2025,"populationShare":0.0178}
Colorado HB22-1355 Producer Responsibility. Program live with published dues schedule; CAA-CO is the PRO.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per CAA-CO program plan, dues invoiced for program year 2026. CAA-CO program page: https://circularactionalliance.org/colorado (accessed 2026-05-13).
California — state metadata
{"code":"CA","name":"California","isEnacted":false,"enactmentYear":2027,"populationShare":0.117}
California SB 54. Producer fees first due to CalRecycle July 1, 2027. No published fee schedule yet — calc-adapter projects from Oregon × tunable.projection.schedule-fraction.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per CalRecycle SB 54 program timeline. https://calrecycle.ca.gov/packaging/packaging-epr/ (accessed 2026-05-13).
Maine — state metadata
{"code":"ME","name":"Maine","isEnacted":false,"enactmentYear":2027,"populationShare":0.0042}
Maine LD 1541. Producer startup-fee invoicing targeted July 2026; first municipal reimbursements October 2027 — that's when ongoing producer fees ramp meaningfully. Calc-adapter projects from Oregon × schedule-fraction.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per Maine DEP packaging EPR timeline reporting; Packaging Dive 2026-05-08: https://www.packagingdive.com/news/maine-extended-producer-responsibility-packaging-timeline/819335/ (accessed 2026-05-13).
Maryland — state metadata
{"code":"MD","name":"Maryland","isEnacted":false,"enactmentYear":2028,"populationShare":0.0186}
Maryland SB 901. Producer registration July 2026; comprehensive responsibility plans due July 2028; local-government reimbursement begins at 50% in 2028 — that's when ongoing producer fees flow at scale. Calc-adapter projects from Oregon × schedule-fraction.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per MDE Producer Responsibility page: https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/land/WasteManagement/Pages/ProducerResponsibility.aspx (accessed 2026-05-13).
Minnesota — state metadata
{"code":"MN","name":"Minnesota","isEnacted":false,"enactmentYear":2029,"populationShare":0.0172}
Minnesota HF 3577. Producers fund 50% of net costs by 2029, 90% by 2031; needs assessment expected end of 2026. Calc-adapter projects from Oregon × schedule-fraction.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per MPCA EPR program timeline. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/extended-producer-responsibility-for-packaging (accessed 2026-05-13).
Washington — state metadata
{"code":"WA","name":"Washington","isEnacted":false,"enactmentYear":2030,"populationShare":0.0234}
Washington SB 5284 Recycling Reform Act. Producer registration July 2026; PRO plan Oct 2028; full program live Jan 1, 2030 (≥90% cost coverage). Calc-adapter projects from Oregon × schedule-fraction.
Citation: CENSUS-2024 for population share. Enactment year per WA Dept of Ecology Recycling Reform Act page. https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/our-recycling-programs/recycling-reform-act (accessed 2026-05-13).
Oregon — rigid plastic tube fee
0.62$/lb
Mapped to "PP (#5) other rigid containers/cups/trays" — 62.0¢/lb. Representative line item for the rigid-plastic-tube category in Oregon's 2026 schedule.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.2.
Oregon — multilayer flexible fee
1.02$/lb
Mapped to "Plastic laminates / other flexible (multilayer)" — 102.0¢/lb. Direct match.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.2.
Oregon — EPS-protected fee
0.72$/lb
Mapped to "PS (#6) white expanded cushioning" — 72.0¢/lb. Picked over the food-service EPS line (138¢) since EPS-protected packaging in the calculator's scope is cushioning, not food service.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.2.
Oregon — polycoated paper fee
0.48$/lb
Mapped to "Polycoated paperboard" — 48.0¢/lb. Direct match.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.1.
Oregon — paper tube fee
0.08$/lb
Mapped to "Paperboard" — 8.0¢/lb. The Paper Tube Co. value-prop anchor: paperboard sits at the bottom of Oregon's fee schedule.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.1.
Oregon — glass container fee
0.1$/lb
Mapped to "Glass bottles/jars" — 10.0¢/lb in Oregon's 2026 schedule.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.1.
Oregon — metal can fee
0.06$/lb
Mapped to "Aluminum containers" — 6.0¢/lb in Oregon's 2026 schedule. Steel containers are 10.0¢/lb in the same schedule; we use aluminum as the representative since it's the dominant consumer-packaging metal.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.1.
Oregon — Other-material approximation
0.71$/lb
Used when the prospect picks "Other". Unweighted average of the four primary current-material categories ((0.62 + 1.02 + 0.72 + 0.48) / 4 = 0.71). Surfaced to the prospect with a clear "approximation — describe your packaging" note; the sales team uses the description on the submission to provide a precise figure.
Citation: Derived midpoint — not a published OR rate. Methodology: arithmetic mean of rigid-plastic-tube, multilayer-flexible, eps-protected, polycoated-paper Oregon 2026 fees.
Colorado — rigid plastic tube fee
0.2$/lb
Mapped to "PP (#5) other rigid containers/cups/trays/tubs" — Final Dues 20.0¢/lb (base 20.0, no malus/bonus).
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.2.
Colorado — multilayer flexible fee
0.74$/lb
Mapped to "Plastic laminates / other flexible (multilayer)" — Final Dues 74.0¢/lb (base 71.1 + 4.1% malus).
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.2.
Colorado — EPS-protected fee
1.56$/lb
Mapped to "PS (#6) white expanded cushioning" — Final Dues 156.0¢/lb. Picked over the food-service EPS line (172¢) for the same reasoning as Oregon.
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.2.
Colorado — polycoated paper fee
0.2$/lb
Mapped to "Polycoated paperboard" — Final Dues 20.0¢/lb (base 20, no malus).
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.1.
Colorado — paper tube fee
0.08$/lb
Mapped to "Paperboard" — Final Dues 8.0¢/lb (base 8, no malus). Matches Oregon at the same fee tier.
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.1.
Colorado — glass container fee
0.04$/lb
Mapped to "Glass bottles/jars" — Final Dues 4.0¢/lb (base 4.2 − 0.2 HRRI bonus).
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.1.
Colorado — metal can fee
0.02$/lb
Mapped to "Aluminum containers" — Final Dues 2.0¢/lb (base 2.1 − 0.1 HRRI bonus). Steel containers are 7.0¢/lb in Colorado.
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.1.
Colorado — Other-material approximation
0.68$/lb
Used when the prospect picks "Other". Unweighted average of the four primary current-material categories ((0.20 + 0.74 + 1.56 + 0.20) / 4 = 0.675).
Citation: Derived midpoint — not a published CO rate. Methodology: arithmetic mean of rigid-plastic-tube, multilayer-flexible, eps-protected, polycoated-paper Colorado 2026 final dues.
Eco-modulation
PCR discount thresholds, recyclability discount percentages, mono-material substitution credits. Drives the eco-mod arbitrage between current materials and paper tubes.
Oregon — eco-modulation status
Final fees in fee.OR.* already reflect Oregon's 2026 modulation baseline. Numeric PCR-tier discounts pending state rulemaking.
Oregon's 2026 schedule embeds USCL/PRO/N/A material tagging into the base fee column rather than offering a separate eco-mod discount tier. Active LCA-based bonuses (Bonus A/B/C) exist but are per-SKU and capped, so they're not modeled here.
Citation: OR-FEE-2026 p.1–2; The Packaging School, "Unpacking Oregon's Ecomodulation Bonuses". https://packagingschool.com/lessons/unpacking-oregons-ecomodulation-bonuses (accessed 2026-05-13).
Colorado — eco-modulation status
Final fees in fee.CO.* already reflect Colorado's 2026 modulation baseline. Numeric PCR-tier discounts pending the Oct 31 2025 detailed guidance.
Colorado's 2026 schedule applies three passive factors automatically — Detriments Malus (+5%), Not-on-MRL Malus (≥10–20%), and High Recycling Rate Bonus (−5%). The seeded fees in fee.CO.* use the Final Dues column, which already includes these adjustments. Four active incentive programs are referenced for 2026; detailed guidance was scheduled to post by Oct 31, 2025.
Citation: CO-DUES-2026 p.3.
Calculation tunables
Default slider positions, 5-year projection assumptions (states-enacted-per-year, projected-schedule-fraction), industry tonnage factors.
Grams per pound (conversion constant)
453.592g/lb
Physical conversion used to translate per-unit weight (grams) into producer-fee units (pounds).
Citation: NIST conversion factor for the international avoirdupois pound. 1 lb = 453.59237 g exactly.
5-year projection — schedule fraction applied to non-OR states
0.8fraction
For states with no published fee schedule, the 5-year projection applies this fraction of Oregon's published schedule. Methodology is from the build spec.
Citation: Build spec section 7.2 — 5-year projection model. Defensible derivation: Oregon is the most mature program with the highest base fees; new states historically launch with rates somewhat below the most-developed program's baseline.
5-year projection — additional states enacting per year
1states/year
Number of states predicted to add an EPR program each year of the projection window. Not currently used by the math (all 7 states are pre-seeded with enactment years); kept as a tunable for future "what if rollout accelerates" scenarios.
Citation: Build spec section 7.2 — 5-year projection model.
Calculator and methodology by Verge Compliance. Operated under retainer by Asymmetric Applications Group. For procurement-team questions or to request a custom assumption, email hello@papertubeco.com.