Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach in which the producer’s responsibility is extended to the post-consumer stage of the life cycle. In this way, it is intended that EPR programmes will reduce waste production and contribute to the decoupling of waste production and GDP and send strong signals to the producer to design products that are more environmentally compatible. Within the OECD many EPR programmes are emerging for different sectors, waste streams and product groups. However, the application of EPR remains controversial, and policy makers are often challenged to prove that the economic costs of achieving EPR goals are justified in terms of the environmental benefits secured. Therefore, this paper investigates how the environmental and economic aspects of EPR can be evaluated.