Provincial Requirements
What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach in which producers/stewards are responsible for the “end-of-life” management of the materials they supply. Circular Materials supports producers/stewards that supply packaging and paper materials to consumers in complying with their EPR obligations.
Jurisdictions around the world have been implementing EPR programs for over two decades for a variety of materials such as hazardous materials, electronics and packaging and paper. EPR effectively transfers financial responsibility for management of these materials from municipal taxpayers (who traditionally paid for residential recycling services through their municipal taxes) to the businesses that directly or indirectly supply the materials to consumers.
In Canada, EPR regulations are set at the provincial level. There are over 80 provincial stewardship programs for products ranging from used oil, electronics and paint to pharmaceuticals, beverages, packaging and single use or packaging-like products — and more are in the planning stages.
Packaging and paper EPR regulations currently exist in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon, all of which provide for either full or partial funding of the recycling system by obligated businesses. The provincial recycling regulations detail producer/steward responsibilities and designate the materials that businesses are obligated to report, pay fees for, and in some provinces, collect and manage as well.
In each province, the applicable regulation requires that producers/stewards either prepare and operate a stewardship plan for the management of their materials or join an approved stewardship plan or producer responsibility organization where applicable.
The information below details the regulations for each province where provincial stewardship programs exist.
Nova Scotia’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations (The Regulations), came into effect on August 2, 2023 with an implementation date set for December 1, 2025. Companies that supply designated materials which include packaging, paper products or packaging-like products comprised of paper, glass, metal or plastic or a combination thereof, were required to register with Divert NS by January 1, 2024.
Circular Materials is a registered producer responsibility organization (PRO) in Nova Scotia that is supporting producers with meeting their regulatory targets in the province. Producers that meet the obligation criteria can register with Circular Materials in Nova Scotia on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform, and enter into a National Producer Service Agreement (NPSA) with our organization. Registered Producers need to be logged in to access the NPSA.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page.
Nova Scotia Regulatory Framework | |
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Legislation | Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act |
Regulation |
Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations |
Oversight agency | Divert NS |
Share of Obligation | 100% |
Start Date | December 1, 2025 |
Producer reporting commences | September 1, 2024 (2023 supply data). Invoicing TBD. |
The Government of New Brunswick amended the Designated Materials Regulation under the Clean Environment Act to establish an extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and paper products in New Brunswick.
Under the Regulation, brand holders/owners that sell, offer for sale or distribute packaging and paper products in New Brunswick are required to register with Recycle NB, whether obligated or exempt.
On November 1, 2023, Circular Materials, the producer responsibility organization (PRO) in New Brunswick, launched the transition to EPR.
Producers that meet the obligation criteria can register with Circular Materials in New Brunswick on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform, and enter into a National Producer Service Agreement (NPSA) with our organization. Registered Producers need to be logged in to access the NPSA.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page.
New Brunswick Regulatory Framework | |
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Legislation | Clean Environment Act |
Regulation | Designated Materials Regulation |
Oversight agency | Recycle NB |
Producer Responsibility Organization | Circular Materials New Brunswick |
Share of obligation | 100% industry funded |
Start date | 2023 (program launched in a phased approach) |
Producer reporting commences |
2022 annual producer report based on 2021 packaging and paper supply. 2022 report invoiced in 2023. |
Under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy, 2016 (Act), the Blue Box Regulation introduced in 2021 requires the transition of the previous partially funded program to a model operated and fully funded by producers. The regulation designates blue box materials, including packaging-like and paper products, under Ontario’s new regulatory framework for resource recovery. The Regulation makes producers resident in Canada that supply packaging and paper to Ontario consumers fully financially and operationally responsible for their products and packaging at the end of their life.
Circular Materials operates as a producer responsibility organization (PRO) in Ontario and is also the administrator of the common collection system on behalf of all PROs operating in Ontario. Starting on July 1, 2023, communities across the province began transitioning to the new framework, which will be fully implemented by January 1, 2026.
Obligated producers are required to register with the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA), the regulatory authority that provides oversight and administration of the Act.
Circular Materials can support producers in meeting their obligation criteria and meeting their management targets. Producers that meet the obligation criteria can register with Circular Materials in Ontario on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform, and enter into a National Producer Service Agreement (NPSA) with our organization. Registered producers need to be logged in to access the NPSA.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page.
Ontario Regulatory Framework | |
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Legislation | Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA) |
Regulation | Blue Box Regulation |
Provincial authority | Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority |
Producer Responsibility Organization | Circular Materials Ontario |
Share of obligation | 100% |
Start date | July 1, 2023 (transition period - 3 years full EPR by 2026) |
Producer reporting commences |
2022 annual producer report based on 2021 packaging and paper supply. 2022 report invoiced in 2023. |
In response to Manitoba’s House Packaging & Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) was created as an industry-run not-for-profit organization to develop a stewardship plan in accordance with the regulation.
Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba Inc. (MMSM) is the not-for-profit, industry-funded organization that funds and provides support for the province’s residential recycling programs for packaging and printed paper. MMSM works on behalf of the manufacturers, retailers and other organizations that supply packaging and printed paper to Manitobans. As an organization that represents steward interests and acts on behalf of stewards, MMSM prepared a stewardship plan on behalf of their members and consulted with stakeholders.
MMSM offers the only plan in Manitoba that is approved by the province’s Ministry of Environment and was launched in 2010. The program helps stewards to fulfill their obligations by funding up to 80% of the residential recycling program in the province.
Stewards that meet the obligation criteria can register with MMSM on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform.
MMSM is in the process of transitioning to a fully funded extended producer responsibility (EPR) program. The organization has completed consultations and has developed and submitted a plan to the provincial government that provides for the transition to 100% steward funding.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page.
Manitoba Regulatory Framework | |
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Legislation | The Waste Reduction & Prevention Act |
Regulation | Household Packaging & Paper Stewardship Program Regulation |
Regulator | Department of Environment and Climate Change |
Recycling program | Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba |
Share of obligation | 80% |
Start date | 2010 |
Producer reporting commences | 2010 |
In response to Saskatchewan’s Household Packaging & Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, Multi-Material Stewardship Western (MMSW) was created as an industry-run not-for-profit organization to develop a stewardship plan in accordance with the regulation. As an organization that represents producer interests and acts on behalf of producers, MMSW prepared a stewardship plan on behalf of their members and consulted with stakeholders.
MMSW offers the only plan in Saskatchewan that is approved by the province’s Ministry of Environment and was launched in 2016. The program helps producers to fulfill their obligations by funding up to 75% of the residential recycling program in the province.
Producers that meet the obligation criteria in Saskatchewan can register with MMSW on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform.
MMSW is in the process of transitioning to a fully funded extended producer responsibility (EPR) program. Circular Materials and MMSW are working together to provide Saskatchewan residents and producers with the benefits of a nationally integrated approach to recycling.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page.
Saskatchewan regulatory framework | |
---|---|
Legislation | The Environmental Management & Protection Act |
Regulation | The Household Packaging & Paper Stewardship Program Regulations |
Regulator | Ministry of Environment |
Recycling program | Multi-Material Stewardship Western |
Share of obligation | 75% |
Start date | 2016 |
Producer reporting commences | 2014 |
Alberta’s new Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation came into effect on November 30, 2022, with the transition to extended producer responsibility (EPR) launching in April 2025. With this new framework for packaging and paper, the province is taking a step towards implementing EPR. Companies that supply designated materials which include packaging, paper products, or packaging-like products comprised of paper, glass, metal or plastic or a combination thereof may be an obligated producer. Producers in Alberta are required to register with Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), the authority overseeing the implementation of EPR in the province by March 1, 2024.
Circular Materials is a registered producer responsibility organization (PRO) in Alberta that can support producers in meeting their regulatory targets. Producers that meet the obligation criteria can register with Circular Materials in Alberta on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform, and enter into a National Producer Service Agreement (NPSA) with our organization. Registered Producers need to be logged in to access the NPSA.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page. Alberta Bylaws and information for producers are also available to guide producers in determining their obligation.
Alberta Regulatory Framework | |
---|---|
Legislation | Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act |
Regulation | Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation |
Provincial authority | Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) |
Share of obligation | 100% |
Start date | April 1, 2025 |
Producer reporting commences |
2023 Annual Producer report based on 2022 packaging and paper supply due to ARMA. 2024 Annual Producer report based on 2023 packaging and paper dupply data informs 2025 invoice. |
Recycle BC is a not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia. Launched in May 2014 in response to British Columbia's Recycling Regulation the Recycle BC Program Plan was the first fully funded extended producer responsibility (EPR) program in North America.
The Program Plan that was developed by Recycle BC on behalf of producers is the only plan in BC that is approved by the province’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. The program helps producers to fulfill their obligations by fully funding the residential recycling program in the province.
Producers that meet the obligation criteria can register with Recycle BC on our WeRecycle Portal, a secure national reporting platform.
For guidance on determining your obligations, visit our Determining Your Obligation page.
British Columbia Regulatory Framework | |
---|---|
Legislation | Environmental Management Act |
Regulation | BC Recycling Regulation |
Regulator | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy |
Recycling program | Recycle BC |
Share of obligation | 100% |
Start date | 2014 |
Producer reporting commences | 2013 |
On January 25, 2024, the Government of the Yukon government released its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulation making it the first territory in Canada to approve an EPR Regulation. Program implementation is scheduled for October 1, 2025. Circular Materials will act as a producer responsibility organization in the Yukon to support producers in meeting their regulatory requirements. Producers/stewards can register with Circular Materials if they are a designated steward who supplies paper products and packaging such as primary, convenience and transport packaging, with a defined exclusion for beverage containers and hazardous and special products category defined in the Regulation. For a list of obligated materials please visit obligated_products.pdf (yukon.ca).
Yukon Regulatory Framework | |
---|---|
Legislation | Environment Act |
Regulation | Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation |
Regulator | Ministry of the Environment |
Producer Responsibility Organization | Circular Materials in Yukon |
Share of obligation | 100% |
Start date | By October 1, 2025, or 9 months after plan approval |
Producer reporting commences | TBD |
Note: Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) operates the EPR program in Quebec. Please visit their website for more information.