Mailers packaging EPR Oregon: what a mailer box costs per 1,000 packs, 2027
Last verified
In Oregon, 1,000 mailer boxes of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size (150 g) carry an estimated packaging fee of $6.61 on the 2027 schedule. The range comes from the published rates of Circular Action Alliance (Oregon PRO) that fit each part of the pack. Instica estimates it; you confirm the weights, then sign and submit.
What this page estimates for a mailer box in Oregon
The mailer box on this page is a corrugated cardboard box that an order travels in to the customer. It has one component, each matched to the published rates of the 2027 schedule of Circular Action Alliance (Oregon PRO) for Oregon; weight times rate gives a fee per 1,000 packs in USD. The figures are estimates built on starting weights.
What is in a mailer box
The mailer is one corrugated component. Tape, labels and void fill are separate packaging items and are not weighed here.
Starting weights, an Instica estimate for a typical pack and not a measured weight: mailer box (corrugated board, 150 g).
- Mailer box
- corrugated board, 150 g (Instica starting estimate)
Worked example: 1,000 mailer boxes in Oregon
One mailer box of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size weighs 150 g in total. For each component the table gives its weight, the matched published rates, and the fee for 1,000 packs.
| Component | Weight each | Matched published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs | Fee per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailer box | 150 g | Corrugated Cardboard | $6.61 | $0.0066 |
Oregon: 1,000 mailer boxes of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size are estimated at $6.61 in packaging fees.
Added together, the estimate for 1,000 packs is $6.61.
Divide by 1,000 for a single pack: about $0.0066.
What the fee tool returns for 1,000 mailer boxes in Oregon
Entered into the public fee tool for Oregon (2027 schedule, effective January 1, 2027), 1,000 mailer boxes give the figures below. The tool is the same engine that prices a report, so this page and the tool agree.
| Component | Category at the lowest rate | Weight | Fee | Category at the highest rate | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailer box | Corrugated Cardboard | 150 g | $6.61 | Corrugated Cardboard | $6.61 |
Oregon: the fee tool returns $6.61 for 1,000 mailer boxes of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size (150 g each).
The tool total is $6.61.
| Size | Weight each | Total, lowest rates | Total, highest rates | Per pack, lowest | Per pack, highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (about 8 x 6 x 4 in) | 90 g | $3.97 | $3.97 | $0.004 | $0.004 |
| Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) | 150 g | $6.61 | $6.61 | $0.0066 | $0.0066 |
| Large (about 16 x 12 x 8 in) | 320 g | $14.11 | $14.11 | $0.0141 | $0.0141 |
Which published rates were matched in Oregon
One published rate was matched to the pack in Oregon from the 2027 schedule. Each is quoted from the programme’s own fee table; the page does not change the rate or round it.
Mailer box, 150 g: one matched rate
| Category | Published rate | Per kilogram | Fee per 1,000 packs | Fee per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugated Cardboard | 2.0 cents per pound | $0.0441 | $6.61 | $0.0066 |
Oregon 2027: the category “Corrugated Cardboard” is published at 2.0 cents per pound.
How size changes the fee for a mailer box
The weight of a mailer box depends on its size. The table prices each of the 3 sizes with the same matched rates, so the only thing that changes between rows is the weight.
| Size | Weight each | Fee per 1,000 packs, lowest rates | Fee per 1,000 packs, highest rates | Per pack, lowest | Per pack, highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (about 8 x 6 x 4 in) | 90 g | $3.97 | $3.97 | $0.004 | $0.004 |
| Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) | 150 g | $6.61 | $6.61 | $0.0066 | $0.0066 |
| Large (about 16 x 12 x 8 in) | 320 g | $14.11 | $14.11 | $0.0141 | $0.0141 |
Each component of the mailer box priced at every size, at the matched rates for Oregon.
| Component | Small (about 8 x 6 x 4 in) | Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) | Large (about 16 x 12 x 8 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mailer box | 90 g: $3.97 | 150 g: $6.61 | 320 g: $14.11 |
What if the mailer box used another material?
Suppose the main component of the mailer box, weighing 150 g, were made of another material. The table prices the same weight in each material class that Oregon publishes a rate for, at the lowest published rate in that class.
| Material | Lowest published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs at that rate | Highest published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs at that rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 2.0 cents per pound | $6.61 | 2.0 cents per pound | $6.61 |
| plastic | 12.0 cents per pound | $39.68 | 56.0 cents per pound | $185.19 |
| glass | 0.0 cents per pound | $0.00 | 0.0 cents per pound | $0.00 |
| aluminium | -9.0 cents per pound | -$29.76 | -9.0 cents per pound | -$29.76 |
| steel | 4.0 cents per pound | $13.23 | 4.0 cents per pound | $13.23 |
| Material | Category | Published rate | Fee per 1,000 packs | Fee per pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| plastic | HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items | 12.0 cents per pound | $39.68 | $0.0397 |
| plastic | PLA, PHA, PHB - Flexible and Film Items | 56.0 cents per pound | $185.19 | $0.1852 |
| plastic | PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items | 56.0 cents per pound | $185.19 | $0.1852 |
| glass | Glass Bottles and Jars & Other Containers | 0.0 cents per pound | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| aluminium | Aluminum Containers | -9.0 cents per pound | -$29.76 | -$0.0298 |
| steel | Steel Containers | 4.0 cents per pound | $13.23 | $0.0132 |
A fee comparison only: another material changes weight and protection too.
What a larger run of mailer boxes costs in Oregon
Fees scale with the number of packs, because the schedule charges by mass. The table repeats the worked example for larger runs of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) mailer box in Oregon. Nothing else changes between rows: the same weights and the same matched rates apply.
| Packs | Total weight | Fee at the lowest rates | Fee at the highest rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 15 kg | $0.66 | $0.66 |
| 500 | 75 kg | $3.31 | $3.31 |
| 1,000 | 150 kg | $6.61 | $6.61 |
| 5,000 | 750 kg | $33.07 | $33.07 |
| 10,000 | 1,500 kg | $66.14 | $66.14 |
| 50,000 | 7,500 kg | $330.69 | $330.69 |
| 100,000 | 15,000 kg | $661.39 | $661.39 |
| 500,000 | 75,000 kg | $3,306.93 | $3,306.93 |
| 1,000,000 | 150,000 kg | $6,613.87 | $6,613.87 |
Oregon: a single mailer box is estimated at $0.0066 in packaging fees.
Oregon: across all its components, a mailer box is priced at $0.0441 per kilogram of packaging.
Taken as a whole, the pack is priced at $0.0441 per kilogram of packaging, so a heavier pack costs more in proportion to its weight.
Flat fee bands, registration fees and minimum charges sit outside this per-kilogram table.
How the fee for mailer boxes has moved on Oregon schedules
Oregon has published 2 per-mass fee schedules that price this pack. The same Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) mailer boxes are priced on each below, with the same weights and the same matching rules, so only the published rates differ.
| Schedule | Effective from | Fee per 1,000 packs, lowest rates | Fee per 1,000 packs, highest rates | Per pack | Change in the lowest fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | January 1, 2026 | $26.46 | $26.46 | $0.0265 | - |
| 2027 | January 1, 2027 | $6.61 | $6.61 | $0.0066 | -75% |
Oregon: on the 2026 schedule, effective January 1, 2026, 1,000 mailer boxes of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size were priced at $26.46.
Oregon: on the 2027 schedule, effective January 1, 2027, 1,000 mailer boxes of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size were priced at $6.61.
The same matched categories on each Oregon schedule, per kilogram; a dash means the schedule does not publish that category.
| Category | 2026 (2026-01) | 2027 (2027-01) |
|---|---|---|
| Corrugated Cardboard | $0.1764 | $0.0441 |
The fee schedule behind these figures for Oregon
The rates come from the 2027 schedule of Circular Action Alliance (Oregon PRO) for Oregon, effective January 1, 2027. The facts below record where it was published and what else the schedule charges.
Oregon: the 2027 fee schedule of Circular Action Alliance (Oregon PRO), effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
Oregon: the schedule’s rates are based on data from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
Oregon: the schedule lists a further fee, “Flat fee eligibility”, with no amount published here.
Oregon: the flat fee band “tier-1” (1 to 2.5 tonne) is $700.00.
Oregon: the flat fee band “tier-2” (2.5 to 5 tonne) is $1,300.00.
Oregon: the flat fee band “tier-3” (5 to 7.5 tonne) is $2,200.00.
Oregon: the flat fee band “tier-4” (7.5 to 10 tonne) is $3,100.00.
Oregon: the schedule describes its eco-modulation method as “per category”.
The schedule also lists one other fee, which is not part of the per-kilogram estimate on this page.
The schedule also lists 4 flat fee bands for small producers. They can replace the per-kilogram fee and are not part of the estimate on this page.
The schedule describes an eco-modulation of its rates, so the fee a producer pays can be adjusted up or down from the base rates shown here.
Ways to lower the fee on a mailer box
Corrugated board is heavier than folding board, so box size is the lever: a box that fits the product closely weighs less.
Many schedules give corrugated cardboard its own line, and some publish a lower rate for it than for other paper because of its high recycling rate.
Void fill, tape and inserts are priced as their own packaging, so a light mailer with heavy fill may cost more in total than a snug box.
Online sellers ship in mailers that they buy and fill themselves, so the shipping box is usually the seller’s own packaging.
Questions sellers ask
How much is the EPR fee for a mailer box in Oregon?
For 1,000 mailer boxes of the Medium (about 12 x 9 x 4 in) size, the estimated fee is $6.61 on the 2027 schedule, from the published rates that fit each component.
Is this the amount I will pay?
No. It is an estimate for the packaging alone. Registration fees, flat fee bands, eco-modulation and thresholds sit outside the per-kilogram figure. Instica prepares the data; you check, sign and submit it, and Instica never stores regulator login details.
How these figures are made
Sources
- circularactionalliance.org: OR 2027FeeSchedule 100126 retrieved
Original wording: 2027 Oregon Producer Fees Schedule Fees for Program Year 2027
Original wording: Producers who supply 10 tons or less of covered materials into the state are eligible to pay flat dues
Original wording: 1 2.5* $700
Original wording: 2.5 5* $1,300
Original wording: 5 7.5 $2,200
Original wording: 7.5 10 $3,100
Original wording: For 2027, CAA is returning approximately $80 million in program reserves to producers through reduced fee rates
Original wording: Corrugated Cardboard USCL 0.07 0.00 -0.05 0.02
Original wording: HDPE (#2)/LDPE (#4) Flexible and Film Items PRO 0.29 0.00 -0.17 0.12
Original wording: Glass Bottles and Jars & Other Containers PRO 0.04 -0.01 -0.03 0.00
Original wording: Aluminum Containers USCL -0.03 0.00 -0.06 -0.09
Original wording: Steel Containers USCL 0.09 0.00 -0.05 0.04
Original wording: PLA, PHA, PHB - Flexible and Film Items N/A 0.97 0.00 -0.41 0.56
Original wording: PP (#5) Flexible and Film Items N/A 0.97 0.00 -0.41 0.56
- circularactionalliance.org: producer resource center retrieved
Original wording: Oregon May 31, 2026 CY 2025 Annual Supply Report 2027 Program
- circularactionalliance.org: OR 2026 Fee Schedule Public retrieved
Original wording: Corrugated Cardboard USCL 8.0 ¢/lb 0.0 ¢/lb 8.0 ¢/lb
The free plan is enough to start. We estimate and prepare; you sign and submit.