Designated Materials

Designated materials under the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations include packaging, paper products or packaging-like products comprised of paper, glass, metal, rigid and flexible plastic, or a combination of these materials, and are ordinarily used for the protection, containment, handling, delivery, presentation or transportation of a commodity or product.

For the purposes of producer obligation and reporting, Nova Scotia’s Regulations provide the following definitions for designated materials:

The obligated producer for these materials can be a brand holder (manufacturer), an importer, retailer and/or franchisor, depending on their position within the responsibility hierarchy. The provider of secondary packaging, such as a box, plastic wrap or other recyclable material, can also be the obligated party.

A producer adds packaging to a product if they:

• make the packaging available for another person to add the packaging to the product.
• cause another organization to add packaging to a product.
• combine the product and the packaging.

Materials Not Designated

The following are not considered designated materials:

• Material included in the existing industry stewardship program under Part II of the Solid Waste-Resource Management Regulations made under the Environment Act.
• Packaging designed to contain pressurized gas or a hazardous product.
• A product designed for the containment of waste.
• A health, hygiene or safety product (packaging or paper) that by virtue of its anticipated use becomes unsafe or unsanitary to recycle.
• Packaging designed and used to contain or transport refillable beer containers, provided the producer meets the management requirements of the designated material as defined in Part II of the Regulation.
• Any beverage on deposit, with the exception of these designated products: dairy milk or product, plant-based milk, meal replacement beverages, formulated liquid diet of foods, all baby formula and beverage concentrate that require water or other beverage mix to dilute before drinking.
• Hard or soft cover books, reference or literary books, textbooks or hard covered periodicals.
• Alcoholic beverage products and packaging.

As the program launches, additional clarification regarding designated materials may follow.

Designated materials under New Brunswick’s Designated Materials Regulation include packaging, packaging-like and paper products including primary, convenience, and transportation packaging comprised of paper, glass, metal or plastic.

For the purposes of producer obligation and reporting, New Brunswick’s Regulation provides the following definitions for designated materials:

Materials Not Designated

The following are not considered designated materials:

• a beverage container as defined in the Beverage Containers Act. In New Brunswick, containers from the following beverages are not on deposit and are therefore included in the scope of producer obligations:
  • Apple cider that has not been heated, pasteurized or otherwise processed;
  • Milk and flavoured milk, as defined under Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations (also applies to goat’s milk);
  • Plant-based milk alternative beverages that are labelled as “fortified” except those labelled as both “fortified” and “not a source of protein”;
  • Nutritional supplements labelled as “meal replacements” or “formulated liquid diets”;
  • Infant formula (labelled as “infant formula”); and
  • Concentrated beverages (must be mixed or diluted before drinking), such as powdered or frozen juices, cocktail mixers, syrups, condensed milk, creamers, coffee or tea concentrates, extracts and flavour enhancers.
• Packaging that is unsafe or unsanitary, or could become unsafe or unsanitary by virtue of its anticipated use, and is not suitable to be recycled.
• Containers from paint that are designated under section 35 of the Designated Materials Regulation, whereby “paint” means a tinted or untinted latex, oil or solvent based architectural coating used for commercial or household purposes, including stain, and includes the coating’s container, or a coloured or clear paint or stain sold in an aerosol container and includes the paint’s or stain’s container, but does not include coatings intended for marine antifouling, industrial or automotive applications.” In practice, this means that any container for a product meeting the definition of ‘paint’ above would not be included in your annual producer report. A container for a paint or coatings product that does not meet the definition of ‘paint’ would be considered designated packaging.
• Oil, oil filters and glycol products that are included in the scope of the New Brunswick Used Oil Management Association would not be included in the Stewardship Plan.
• Alcoholic beverage products and packaging.

Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation defines designated blue box materials as packaging, paper products or packaging-like products comprised of paper, glass, metal, rigid and flexible plastic, or a combination of these materials, and are ordinarily used for the protection, containment, handling, delivery, presentation or transportation of a commodity or product.

For the purposes of producer obligation and reporting, Ontario’s Regulation provides the following definitions for designated materials:

Materials Not Designated

• A material included in another designated class under section 60 of the Act.
• A pharmaceutical or sharp in respect of which there are collection or disposal obligations prescribed under Ontario Regulation 298/12 (Collection of Pharmaceuticals and Sharps — Responsibilities of Producers) made under the Environmental Protection Act.
• A material included in the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program, if that program is in operation under the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016.
• Products or packaging designated under the Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) Regulation:
  • Containers for products designated under the HSP Regulation (i.e. solvents, paints and coatings, fertilizers, pesticides, antifreeze) are excluded from the Blue Box Regulation.
  • Paper or packaging product that is associated with HSP that is not required to be reported under the HSP Regulation is captured by the Blue Box Regulation. These include:
    • Corrugated and boxboard boxes
    • Shrink wrap
    • Plastic film
    • Printed paper
• A product designed for the containment of waste.
• A health, hygiene or safety product that, by virtue of its anticipated use, becomes unsafe or unsanitary to recycle.
• Blue Box packaging that cannot be easily separated from hazardous waste within the meaning of Regulation 347 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (General — Waste Management) made under the Environmental Protection Act.
• Alcoholic beverage products and their packaging.

Materials designated under Manitoba’s Packaging & Paper Product Stewardship Regulation are packaging and printed paper made of glass, metal, paper or plastic, or a combination of these. Obligated stewards are responsible for the end-of-life management of these materials if they supply them, directly or indirectly, to residential consumers in Manitoba.

The steward obligated for a designated material can be a brand owner or first importer resident in Manitoba, or a franchisor with franchisees in the province, determined in accordance with the responsibility hierarchy.

For the purposes of steward obligation and reporting, designated materials for the Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) program are defined below:

For more information on designated packaging and printed paper for the MMSM program, please refer to the MMSM Rules or the MMSM Program Plan.

Materials Not Designated

• Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA) members must report all non-alcoholic beverage containers in the CBCRA portion of the WeRecycle Portal. Non-CBCRA members report non-alcoholic beverage containers to MMSM. For questions on how to report non-alcoholic beverage containers in the CBCRA portion of our WeRecycle Portal, please contact CBCRA at 1-855-644-7400 or by email at customerservice@cbcra-acrcb.org.
• Report beverage alcohol containers with the exception of beer containers which are on deposit. Secondary packaging associated with beer and cider containers for which a refundable deposit is payable when the goods are supplied at retail should not be reported to MMSM.
• Do not report containers from paint and coatings defined as:
  • Latex, oil and solvent based architectural coatings, whether tinted or untinted, including paints and stains for commercial and homeowner use, but not including unpressurized coatings supplied in containers with a capacity of more than 30 litres;
  • Paints and stains sold in pressurized aerosol containers. Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation
•  Do not report containers from lubricating oil defined as any petroleum or synthetic crankcase oil, engine oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, heat transfer fluid or other fluid capable of use for lubricating purposes in machinery or equipment. Used Oil, Oil Filters and Containers Stewardship Regulation 86/97
• Do not report containers from engine antifreeze defined as automotive antifreeze. Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation
• Do not report containers from control products, as defined in the Pest Control Products Act (Canada), registered under that Act that:
  • are required to be labelled with the product class designation "Domestic"; and
  • display on the label the symbol shown in Schedule III of the Pest Control Products Regulation (Canada) for the signal word "Poison". Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation
• Do not report containers from products that meet the definition of “flammable materials” in the Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation.
• Do not report containers used to contain products that meet the definitions in the “pharmaceutical products” and “natural health products” categories in the Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation.

Materials designated under Saskatchewan’s Household Packaging & Paper Stewardship Program Regulations are paper and packaging made of glass, metal, paper, boxboard, cardboard, paper fibre or plastic or a combination of these. Obligated producers are responsible for the end-of-life management of these materials if they supply them, directly or indirectly, to residential consumers in Saskatchewan.

The producer obligated for a designated material can be a brand owner or first importer resident in Saskatchewan, or a franchisor with franchisees in the province, determined in accordance with the responsibility hierarchy.

For the purposes of producer obligation and reporting, designated materials for the Multi-Material Stewardship Western (MMSW) program are defined below:

These definitions have been condensed. For the full definition of included packaging materials and paper products, please refer to the MMSW Program Plan.

Materials Not Designated

• Do not report ready-to-serve non-alcoholic beverage containers that are on deposit.
• The following beverages are not on deposit and should be included in your steward report:
  • Infant formula
  • Ready-to-drink nutritional supplements and meal replacement beverages
  • Any ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic beverages in multi-laminated foil pouches
• Do not report beverage alcohol containers. Secondary packaging for beer and cider containers is designated for all stewards of beer and cider containers. Please ensure that it is reported. The Environmental Management and Protection Act – Part VI, Division 1 - Beverage Container Program
• Do not report containers from paint and coatings defined as:
  • any latex, oil or solvent-based coating;
  • any stain, varnish, lacquer or other wood or masonry treatment product; and
  • any type of paint sold in a pressurized aerosol container; but does not include:
    • paint manufactured for automotive or marine use;
    • non-latex concrete sealant; or
    • bottled paint for hobby, artistic or cosmetic use; or
    • “waste paint” that the consumer no longer wants, including the original container in which the paint was purchased. The Waste Paint Management Regulations
• Do not report containers from lubricating oil defined as any petroleum or synthetic oil that is recoverable for other uses and that is used for the purposes of insulation, lubrication, hydraulics or heat transfer and includes vegetable oil used for lubricating purposes. The Used Petroleum and Antifreeze Products Stewardship Regulations
• Do not report containers from engine antifreeze defined as ethylene or propylene glycol used as an engine coolant, but does not include antifreeze used for plumbing, windshield washers, lock de-icing, fuel line or aircraft de-icing with a capacity of 50 litres or less, that is manufactured for the purpose of holding oil, diesel exhaust fluid or antifreeze. The Used Petroleum and Antifreeze Products Stewardship Regulations
• Do not report containers from diesel exhaust fluid defined as an aqueous urea solution consisting of urea and de-ionized water, the purpose of which is to lower diesel engine exhaust emissions, with a capacity of 50 litres or less, that is manufactured for the purpose of holding oil, diesel exhaust fluid or antifreeze. The Used Petroleum and Antifreeze Products Stewardship Regulations
• Do not report containers from control products as defined and registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada), registered under that Act that:
  • are required to show on the label the domestic product class designation, and
  • display on the label the symbol shown in Schedule III of the Pest Control Products Regulation (Canada) for the signal word "Poison". The Household Hazardous Waste Products Stewardship Regulations – Pesticides
• Do not report containers from products that meet the definition of “flammable materials” in The Household Hazardous Waste Products Stewardship Regulations – Waste Household Hazardous Materials.

In Alberta, single-use products, packaging, packaging-like products and paper products made of paper, glass, metal or plastic, or a combination of these materials are considered to be designated materials. Producers have obligations for these materials if they are supplied to consumers and are intended for residential use.

Materials supplied to end-users who are industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) consumers are excluded from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. Additionally, any packaging materials regulated under separate stewardship programs, such as programs for beverage containers, electronics, paint, tires and used oil materials, are not to be included in your reports for packaging and paper products under the EPR program.

The obligated producer for these materials can be a brand holder (manufacturer), an importer, or a retailer and/or franchisor, depending on their position within the responsibility hierarchy.

For the purposes of producer obligation and reporting, Alberta’s EPR Regulation provides the following definitions for designated materials:

Materials Not Designated

• Designated Material Recycling and Management Regulation (AR 93/2004)
• Beverage Container Recycling Regulation (AR 101/97)
• Hazardous and Special Products Bylaw

As the program launches, additional clarification regarding designated materials may follow.

Materials designated under British Columbia’s Recycling Regulation are packaging, paper, packaging-like products and single-use products. Obligated producers are responsible for the end-of-life management of these materials if they supply them, directly or indirectly, to residential consumers in the province.

The producer obligated for a designated material can be a brand owner or first importer resident in British Columbia, or a franchisor with franchisees in the province, determined in accordance with the responsibility hierarchy.

For the purposes of producer obligation and reporting, designated materials for the Recycle BC program are defined below: 

These definitions have been condensed. For the full definition of included packaging and paper products, please refer to the Recycle BC Program Plan.

Materials Not Designated

• Do not report ready-to-serve drinks that are on deposit. The following beverages are NOT on deposit and should be included in your report:
  • Infant formulas
  • Meal replacements
  • Dietary supplements
  • Condensed or evaporated milk, whipping cream, coffee cream or other coffee additives, buttermilk, drinkable yogurt, modified milk-derived products such as kefir. BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 1 – Beverage Container Product Category
• Do not report beverage alcohol containers. Secondary packaging for beer and cider containers is not designated under the Recycle BC program. BDL members should not report this material. Non-BDL members are required to report this. BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 1 – Beverage Container Product Category
• Do not report containers from paint and coatings defined as:
  • latex, oil and solvent-based architectural coatings, including paints and stains for commercial and household use, whether tinted or untinted, including empty containers; and
  • paints and stains, whether coloured or clear, sold in aerosol containers, including empty aerosol containers, but not including unpressurized coatings formulated for industrial, automotive or marine anti-fouling applications. BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Paint Product Category
• Do not report containers from lubricating oil defined as:
  • petroleum-derived or synthetic;
    • crankcase, engine and gear oils; and
    • hydraulic, transmission and heat transfer fluids; and
  • fluids used for lubricating purposes in machinery or equipment. The empty oil container product category consists of empty containers with a capacity of 30 litres or less, manufactured and used for any product in the lubricating oil product category. BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Lubricating Oil Product Category
• Do not report antifreeze product category which consists of automotive antifreeze and includes empty containers for this antifreeze. BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Antifreeze Product Category
• Do not report containers from pest control products registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada), registered under that Act that:
  • are required to show on the label the domestic product class designation, and
  • display on the label the symbol shown in Schedule III of the Pest Control Products Regulations (Canada) for the signal word "Poison".

The definition of products covered under Schedule 2 changed with the 2020 Amendment to the BC Recycling Regulation. Some products previously reported to Recycle BC are now covered under Schedule 2. Please see the Amendment for more information. BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Pesticide product category

• Do not report containers from products that meet the definition in Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories - Solvent and flammable liquids product category of the BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004. Please note, the following containers are not part of Schedule 2 and should be reported to Recycle BC:
  • Hairspray cans, deodorant spray cans and mousse spray cans, non-flammable food aerosol spray cans such as cheese and whipped cream.
• Report containers used to contain products that meet the definition of the pharmaceutical product category in Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Pharmaceutical product category of the BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004.