In the absence of a federal framework for extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the U.S., the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) builds capacity for product stewardship programs and unifies state and local governments across the nation to advance EPR policy. PSI leads government members through evidence-based, collaborative processes to develop models for effective EPR programs and engages stakeholders from government, environmental organizations, and industry to refine those models and pass legislation. Producers benefit from this approach, as well as governments, because it creates a foundation for harmonized programs across an otherwise disparate landscape. Paint stewardship provides the most effective example of this approach, with 10 laws across the U.S. based on a model PSI mediated with industry and other stakeholders at the table. Since PSI was founded in 2000, the number of EPR laws in the U.S. has grown steadily, now reaching 117 EPR laws in 33 states and the District of Columbia for 14 product areas. Products covered by EPR programs include electronics, pharmaceuticals, batteries, paint, mercury-containing thermostats and lamps, mattresses, and carpets. In 2019, the focus shifted significantly toward packaging and paper products in the aftermath of the China Sword and related waste policy changes globally. The prospects for more EPR programs are improving as the public demands changes to protect environmental and human health, and as state and local governments work together to enact change.