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1.9 What is packaging and paper product?

The governments of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have all passed legislation which includes definitions of packaging and paper product. Further to these Acts and Regulations, program plans were presented for approval to provincial Ministries of Environments (MOEs). These program plans provide definitions of packaging and paper product that Recycle BC, MMSW, MMSM, and Stewardship Ontario use to operate their respective recycling programs and that stewards will need to understand in order to report to these programs accurately.

The following table presents PPP definitions for Recycle BC, MMSW, MMSM and Stewardship Ontario which appear in their respective Rules, stewardship plans or in the Regulations. Please note below that with the explanatory note to the BC Recycling Regulation, the definition of designated materials in BC has been expanded to include Single Use Products and Packaging Like Products (SUP/PLP). Producers must begin including this material in their 2022 steward reports based on their 2021 supply data. A list of SUP/PLP includes but is not limited to those found in section 1.9.1 below.

Recognizing that there are slight differences in the definitions between provincial PPP programs, for the purposes of harmonization across programs, sections 1.9.1 and below provide the definitions of designated materials which are used across all provinces.

  Packaging Definition for purposes of producer obligation and reporting under the PPP stewardship programs includes: Paper Product Definition for purposes of producer obligation and reporting under the PPP stewardship programs includes:
Recycle BC

Primary packaging, i.e., packaging that contains the product at the point of sale to the residential consumer;

Grouped packaging or secondary packaging that goes to the household;

Transportation, distribution or tertiary packaging that goes to the household;

Service packaging designed and intended to be filled at the point of sale and “disposable” items sold, filled or designed and intended to be filled at the point of sale;

Packaging components and ancillary elements integrated into packaging, including ancillary elements directly hung or attached to a product and which perform a packaging function unless they are an integral part of the product and all elements are intended to be consumed or disposed of together.

Single-Use Products and Packaging-Like Products are designated materials. Packaging-like products (PLP) are typically purchased as products and are often indistinguishable from packaging. Single-use products (SUP) may not always be thought of as packaging but, similar to PLP, serve a single or short-term purpose (e.g.,  plastic straws, stir sticks, utensils, plates, bowls and cups, foil or plastic wrap, foil containers purchased as a product, recycling bags, bubble wrap, plastic plant pots and saucers).  

Please refer to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Explanatory note on the definition of Single-Use Products and Packaging-Like Products here.

This definition has been condensed. For full definition of included packaging materials please refer to the Recycle BC Program Plan.

Paper of any description including flyers, brochures, booklets, catalogues, telephone directories, newspapers, magazines, paper fibre and paper used for copying, writing or any other general use.

Single-Use Products and Packaging-Like Products are designated materials. Packaging-like paper products are typically purchased as products and are often indistinguishable from packaging. Single-use products may not always be thought of as packaging but, similar to PLP, serve a single or short-term purpose.  Examples of designated paper products in BC include: corrugated cardboard moving boxes, banking boxes, purchased gift or loot bags, gift boxes, streamers, banners, paper party décor, paper lunch bags, wax and parchment paper.

Please refer to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Explanatory note on the definition of Single Use Products and Packaging Like Products here

Paper does not include paper products that by virtue of their anticipated use could become unsafe or unsanitary to recycle or any type of bound books such as text books, reference books or literary books.

This definition has been condensed. For full definition of designated paper materials please refer to the BC Recycling Regulation.

MMSW

Primary packaging, i.e., packaging that contains the product at the point of sale to the residential consumer;

Grouped packaging or secondary packaging that goes to the household;

Transportation, distribution or tertiary packaging that goes to the household;

Service packaging designed and intended to be filled at the point of sale and “disposable” items sold, filled or designed and intended to be filled at the point of sale;

Packaging components and ancillary elements integrated into packaging, including ancillary elements directly hung or attached to a product and which perform a packaging function unless they are an integral part of the product and all elements are intended to be consumed or disposed of together.

This definition has been condensed. For the full definition of included packaging materials please refer to the MMSW Program Plan.

Paper of any description including flyers, brochures, booklets, catalogues, telephone directories, newspapers, magazines, paper fibre and paper used for copying, writing or any other general use.

Excluded are paper products that, by virtue of their anticipated use, could become unsafe or unsanitary to recycle or any type of bound book not mentioned in clause.

Paper comprises any type of cellulosic fibre source including but not limited to wood, wheat, rice, cotton, bananas, eucalyptus, bamboo, hemp, and sugar cane (bagasse) fibre sources.

This definition has been condensed. For the full definition of included paper please see the MMSW Program Plan.

MMSM

Designated materials for the MMSM program include:

“Packaging”, which means materials that are used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery or presentation of goods supplied to consumers, and includes, but is not limited to, service packaging and all packaging components and ancillary elements integrated into the Packaging. “Service packaging” means packaging which may or may not bear a brand that is supplied at the point of sale by the retail, food- service or other service providers to facilitate the delivery of goods, and includes all bags, boxes, and other items for the containment of goods at point of sale.

“Supplied”, means sold, leased, donated, disposed of, used, transferred the possession of or title of, or otherwise made available to a consumer in Manitoba or distributed for use by a consumer in Manitoba.

“Consumer”, means an individual (other than a Person in the Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional (IC&I) sector) to whom Designated Blue Box Waste is Supplied.

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

Designated printed paper for the MMSM program includes:

  • newspapers, including those paid through subscription, provided through free distribution and those purchased through retail channels;
  • daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly glossy magazines including those paid through subscription, provided through free distribution and those purchased through retail channels;
  • directories, including those paid through subscription, provided through free distribution and those purchased through retail channels;
  • lottery tickets and lottery information;
  • warranty information, assembly instructions, product use instructions and health information, product registration cards and promotional information that is found inside purchased products;
  • envelopes, statements and information inserts from banks, credit companies, utilities, service providers, etc.;
  • information, forms and promotional materials distributed by municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments;
  • promotional calendars, posters that are distributed to consumers free of charge;
  • unsolicited promotional information, coupons, handbills and flyers; and
  • transportation and transit schedules.

Printed paper does not include bound reference books, bound literary books, or bound textbooks.

Please see the MMSM Rules or Program Plan for more information on designated printed paper.

Stewardship
Ontario - Blue Box Transition Plan - program winds up by 2026.

“Packaging”, refers to materials that are used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery or presentation of goods supplied to consumers, and includes, but is not limited to, service packaging and all packaging components and ancillary elements integrated into the Packaging.

“Service Packaging”, refers to packaging which may or may not bear a brand that is supplied at the point of sale by the retail, food-service or other service providers to facilitate the delivery of goods, and includes all bags, boxes, and other items for the containment of goods at point of sale.

“Supplied”, means sold, leased, donated, disposed of, used, transferred the possession of or title of, or otherwise made available to a consumer in Ontario or distributed for use by a consumer in Ontario. Supply and supplies have similar meanings.

“Consumer”, means an individual (other than a person in the Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional (IC&I) sector) to whom Designated Blue Box Waste is supplied. Please refer to the Stewardship Ontario Program Plan or the Rules for more information on designated materials for the Stewardship Ontario program.

“Printed Paper” means any material that is not Packaging, but is printed with text or graphics as a medium for communicating information, Supplied to Consumers, and includes, but is not limited to:

  • newspapers, including those paid through subscription, provided through free distribution and those purchased through retail channels;
  • daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly glossy magazines, comic books, puzzle books including those paid through subscription, provided through free distribution and those purchased through retail channels;
  • directories, including those paid through subscription, provided through free distribution and those purchased through retail channels;
  • lottery tickets and lottery information;
  • warranty information, assembly instructions, product use instructions and health information, product registration cards and promotional information that is found inside purchased products;
  • envelopes, statements and information inserts from banks, credit companies, utilities, service providers, etc.;
  • information, forms and promotional materials distributed by municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments;
  • promotional calendars, posters that are distributed to consumers free of charge;
  • unsolicited promotional information, coupons, handbills and flyers; and
  • transportation and transit schedules. Printed Paper does not include bound reference books, bound literary books, or bound textbooks.

Please refer to the Stewardship Ontario Program Plan or the Rules for more information on designated materials for the Stewardship Ontario program.

 

1.9.1 What is packaging?

Since there are slight differences in the definitions of packaging across the programs, in order to harmonize across provinces, designated packaging will hereafter be defined as:

Packaging means materials that are used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery or presentation of goods which are supplied to residential consumers (as opposed to industrial, commercial, or institutional consumers). Packaging includes, but is not limited to, service packaging and all packaging components and ancillary elements integrated into the packaging. In British Columbia, SUP/PLP includes, but is not limited to the items listed in the table below and as further outlined in the BC Ministry’s explanatory note here.

This would include:

  • A material or substance (such as, but not exclusively, glass, metal, paper, boxboard, cardboard, textile, paper fibre, plastic, or any combination of those materials) that is used to protect, contain, or transport a product to a residential consumer; and
  • Secondary packaging that goes to the household such as the plastic wrap around a case of water bottles, or the plastic wrap around multiple boxes of tissue.
  • Please note, stewards are required to report all packaging that meets this definition regardless of whether it is managed in the residential waste, organics or recycling stream.

 

Examples of Packaging
image Cardboard boxes image Condiment bottles
image Shampoo and conditioner bottles image Soup cans
image Cosmetic cases such as hand cream and foundation image Cereal boxes
image Aerosol containers image Candy wrappers
image Pet food bags image Plastic film or wrap used as secondary packaging around a multi-pack of product supplied to consumers
image Pickle jars image Styrofoam packing peanuts or bubble wrap and packaging such as boxes and bags used for e-commerce delivery to residential customers

 

Examples of Single-Use Products and Packaging-Like Products to be reported to Recycle BC
image

Food storage, lunch bags or wraps (paper and plastic)

image Recycling bags (for collecting recyclables)
image

Aluminum foil, aluminum foil pie plates, thin gauge tins and trays

image LDPE/HDPE film (e.g., drop-sheets for painting, furniture or equipment)
image

Non-durable plastic, paper food containers such as hard plastic lunch containers.

image Corrugated cardboard moving boxes, bank boxes, cardboard boxes, bubble wrap
image

Purchased gift or loot bags, boxes, purchased carry out bags

image Plastic plant pots and saucers
image

Purchased straws, stir sticks, and plastic utensils

image Wax and parchment paper
image

Disposable ( paper, plastic) cups, bowls, trays, cartons and plates etc. 

image Paper party décor including streamers, banners, pinwheels, party hats and pinatas

 

All PPP stewardship programs also cover service packaging which includes, but is not limited to those outlined in the following table (For Recycle BC stewards, please see section 1.10.4 for an update in the definition of responsible steward for service packaging). 

Examples of Service Packaging
image Food wraps provided by bakeries and delis image Envelopes for developed photographs
image Flower boxes and wraps image Gift wrapping or tissue added to a product by a retailer
image Disposable plates and cups provided to residential consumer at point of sale to facilitate the delivery of food and beverages image

Bags filled at the shelves with bulk goods, produce and baked goods

image

Take-out and home delivery food service packaging such as pizza boxes, cups bags, cartons, wraps and trays

image Paper or plastic carry-out bags provided at checkout and provided by retailers
image Non-branded packaging purchased from a wholesaler distributed to consumers as service packaging containing your product such as paper bags or boxes for bakery items.* image

Tissue paper added at the point-of-sale to protect fragile items or clothing.

*Recycle BC stewards please note that with the designation of SUP/PLP, Recycle BC has redefined the responsible producer for service packaging. Please see 1.10.4.

 

1.9.2 Materials that should not be included in your report

Stewards may supply material that should not be included in their steward report. Please refer to section 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 of the Guidebook for a full explanation of which materials should not be reported.

1.9.2.1 Clarification of materials covered under separate regulation

When a container or package is covered under a separate regulation it should not be reported as part of your annual steward report. Because the regulations covering other container categories vary from province to province, the tables below have been created to outline other regulated programs and some information on the containers which are covered by separate regulation and should not be included in your PPP report.

Packaging for product categories covered by separate regulation

The following is an outline of how to report the secondary packaging associated with beer and cider containers since this material is treated differently in different provinces.

Container BC SK MB ON
Non-Alcoholic Beverage
Containers

Do not report ready-to-serve drinks that are on deposit. This includes milk, milk substitutes such as rice milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk (or any other milk substitute that comes from grains, nuts or vegetables) and flavoured milk (where milk appears as one of the first three ingredients in the ingredient list). See Encorp Pacific link below for more detail on beverages included in the BC beverage deposit program.

BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 1 Beverage Container Product Category

Coordinating Organization:

The following beverages are NOT on deposit and should be Included in your report:

  • Infant formulas
  • Meal replacements
  • Dietary supplements
  • Condenses or evaporated milk, whipping cream, coffee cream or other coffee additives, buttermilk, drinkable yogurt, modified milk-derived products such as kefir.

Do not report ready-to-serve non-alcoholic beverage containers that are on deposit. See SARCAN link below for more detail on beverages included in the SK beverage deposit program.

Please Note: Most ready-to-drink beverages (exceptions below) are on deposit in SK including:

  • All ready-drink beverages
  • Non-dairy milk replacement beverages such as almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk
  • Milk, flavoured milk, buttermilk, cream, fluid coffee cream, lactose-free milk, drinkable yogurts

Do not report these beverage containers to MMSW.

Environmental Management and Protection Act – Division 1 Beverage Container Program

Coordinating Organization(s): 

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

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 the WeRecycle Portal, please contact CBCRA at 1-855-644-7400 or by email at customerservice@cbcra-acrcb.org.

Report all non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Reporting Tips for Non-Alcoholic Beverage Containers

Secondary packaging such as film plastic wrap, corrugated cardboard or boxboard associated with these containers should be reported to the applicable PPP program as only the containers, closures and labels are part of the deposit programs. Manitoba stewards who report beverage containers to CBCRA should also report their secondary packaging to the CBCRA program. Any caps, rings and labels from beverage containers not on deposit should be reported under the appropriate non-beverage categories when not using the Component Threshold Rule.

The deposit programs in BC and SK do not cover containers from beverage concentrates that require the consumer to mix with water prior to consumption. These containers should be reported to the applicable PPP program in each province.

Container BC SK MB ON
Beverage Alcohol Containers

Do not report beverage alcohol containers

BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 1 Beverage Container Product Category

Coordinating Organization(s):

Do not report beverage alcohol containers

Environmental Management and Protection Act – Division 1 Beverage Container Program

Coordinating Organization(s):

Report beverage alcohol containers with the exception of beer containers which are on deposit.

 

Do not report beverage alcohol containers.

Ontario Regulation 391/21

Coordinating Organization(s):

 

The following is an outline of how to report the secondary packaging associated with beer and cider containers since this material is treated differently in different provinces. 

  BC SK MB ON
BDL Members Secondary packaging for beer and cider containers is not designated under the Recycle BC program. BDL members should not report this material.

Secondary Packaging for beer and cider containers is designated for all stewards of beer and cider containers.

 

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.

Secondary packaging for beer and cider containers is not designated under the PPP program and BDL members should not report this material.
Non-BDL Members Secondary packaging for beer and cider containers is designated and must be reported to Recycle BC for non-BDL members.

Secondary packaging for beer and cider containers is designated and must be reported to Stewardship Ontario for non-BDL members.

Reporting Tips:

Report the secondary packaging for wine and spirits such as film plastic wrap, corrugated cardboard or boxboard associated with these containers to the applicable PPP program if the secondary packaging is not part of the deposit program. Service packaging supplied to consumers at the point of sale for all beverage alcohol containers must also be reported.

For beverage alcohol containers that are not on deposit, report caps, rings and labels from beverage containers under the appropriate non-beverage material categories when not using the Component Threshold Rule.

 

 

Container BC SK MB ON
Paint and Coatings Containers

Do not report containers from paint and coatings defined as:

  1. latex, oil and solvent-based architectural coatings, including paints and stains for commercial and household use, whether tinted or untinted, including empty containers; and
  2. 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 paint and coatings defined as:

  1. any latex, oil or solvent-based coating;
  2. any stain, varnish, lacquer or other wood or masonry treatment product; and
  3. 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
    • “waste paint” means paint that the consumer no longer wants, and includes the original container in which the paint was purchased.

The Waste Paint Management Regulations

Do not report containers from paint and coatings defined as:

  1. 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 L;
  2. Paints and stains sold in pressurized aerosol containers.

Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous

Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation

Coordinating Organization(s):

Products or packaging designated as Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) do not need to be reported by Stewardship Ontario Blue Box stewards. Further information is available from the RPRA website FAQs.

 

Reporting Tips
  • Only containers from paint and coatings not covered by the Paint Program in BC, MB, and SK are to be reported to the PPP program. Examples include:
    • Automotive paint in BC, SK, and MB
    • Marine (anti-fouling) paint in BC, SK and MB
  • Arts and crafts paint in BC, SK and MB

 

 

Container BC SK MB ON
Fertilizer Containers Report all containers from fertilizer products Report all containers from fertilizer products Report all containers from fertilizer products Products or packaging designated as Hazardous and Speical Products (HSP) do not need to be reported by Stewardship Ontario Blue Box stewards. Further information is available from the RPRA website FAQs.
Reporting Tips
  • In BC, SK and MB there are no stewardship programs for fertilizers and therefore all fertilizer containers are to be reported to the applicable PPP programs

 

 

Container BC SK MB ON

Lubricating Oil Containers

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

Coordinating Organization(s):

Do not report containers from lubricating oil defined as:

“oil” means 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.

Used Petroleum and Antifreeze Products Collection Regulations

Coordinating Organization(s):

Do not report containers from lubricating oil defined as:

“oil” means 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

Coordinating Organization(s):

Do not report containers from lubricating oil defined as:

“lubricating oil” which means petroleum-derived or synthetic crankcase oil, engine oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, gear oil, heat transfer fluid, or other oil or fluid used for lubricating machinery or equipment.

The Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA)

Please refer to RPRA website for more details

Reporting Tips

  • Report all oil containers that do not meet the definition of oil containers in the oil container programs above to the applicable PPP program.

 

Container BC SK MB ON
Engine Antifreeze Containers

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

Coordinating Organization(s):

Do not report containers from engine antifreeze defined as: “antifreeze” meaning 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; “container” means a container with a capacity of 50 litres or less that is manufactured for the purpose of holding oil, diesel exhaust fluid or antifreeze.

Used Petroleum and Antifreeze Products Collection Regulations

Coordinating Organization(s):

Do not report containers from engine antifreeze defined as automotive antifreeze.

Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation

Coordinating Organization(s):

The Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA)

Please refer to RPRA website for more details.

 

Container BC SK MB ON
Diesel Exhaust Fluid Containers

Report all containers from diesel exhaust fluid products.

 

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 - “container” means a container with a capacity of 50 litres or less that is manufactured for the purpose of holding oil, diesel exhaust fluid or antifreeze.

Used Petroleum and Antifreeze Products Collection Regulations

Coordinating Organization(s):

Report all containers from diesel exhaust fluid products.

 

Report all containers from diesel exhaust fluid products.

 

Reporting Tips
  • Report diesel exhaust fluid container packaging to Recycle BC, MMSM and Stewardship Ontario.
  • Do not report diesel exhaust fluid container packaging to MMSW

 

Container BC SK MB ON

Pesticide Containers

Do not report containers from pest control products registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada) that;

(a) are required to show on the label the domestic product class designation, and

(b) display on the label the symbol shown in Schedule III of the Pest Control Products Regulation (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 visit Reporting Guidance for more information.

BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Pesticides

Do not report containers from control products as defined and registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada) that:

(a) are required to show on the label the domestic product class designation, and

(b) 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 – Pesticide Category

Do not report containers from control products, as defined in the Pest Control Products Act (Canada), registered under that Act that

(a) are required to be labelled with the product class designation "Domestic"; and

(b) 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

Coordinating Organization(s): Product Care

Products or packaging designated as Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) do not need to be reported by Stewardship Ontario Blue Box stewards. Further information is available from the RPRA website FAQs.

Reporting Tips
  • Report all containers from pest control products that do not meet the definition of a “Pesticide” in the corresponding provincial regulations, to Recycle BC, MMSW and MMSM respectively.
  • Report containers from all pest control products supplied to residential consumers in Ontario in your Blue Box Steward Report to Stewardship Ontario

 

Container BC SK MB ON

Solvent and Flammable Liquid Containers

Do not report containers from products that meet the definition of the “Solvent and flammable liquids” product category in Schedule 2 of the BC Recycling Regulation.

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 visit Reporting Guidance for more information.  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.

BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Pesticides 

Do not report containers from products that meet the definition of “flammable materials” in the

The Household Hazardous Waste Products Stewardship Regulations – Waste Household Hazardous Materials (a) flammable materials

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

 

Coordinating Organization(s): Product Care

 

Products or packaging designated as Hazdardous and Special Products (HSP) do not need to be reported by Stewardship Ontario Blue Box stewards. Further information is available from the RPRA website FAQs.

Reporting Tips
  • Report all containers from products that do not meet the definition of solvents and flammable liquids in the corresponding provincial regulations, to Recycle BC, MMSW and MMSM respectively.  In BC, explicit examples of containers that are exempt from the solvent and flammable liquids category that should be reported to Recycle BC are cosmetic and beauty products as well as drugs, medicines and other health products that would otherwise be classified as flammables.
  • Report all containers from solvent and flammable liquid products supplied to residential consumers in Ontario in your Blue Box Steward Report to Stewardship Ontario.

 

Container BC SK MB ON

Pharmaceutical Containers

Report containers used to contain products that meet the definition of the pharmaceutical product category in Schedule 2 of the:

BC Recycling Regulation 449/2004 – Schedule 2 – Residual Product Categories – Pharmaceutical

Coordinating Organization(s):  Health Products Stewardship Association

 

 

Report all containers from pharmaceutical products supplied to residential consumers to MMSW.

Do not report containers used to contain products that meet the definition of the “Pharmaceutical Products” and “Natural Health Products” categories in the:

Waste Prevention and Protection Act, Household Hazardous Material and Prescribed Material Stewardship Regulation

Coordinating Organization(s):  Health Products Stewardship Association

Report containers used to contain pharmaceutical products supplied to residential consumers that meet the definition of “pharmaceuticals” in:

O. Reg. 298/12: Collection of Pharmaceuticals and Sharps – Responsibilities of Producers

 

Coordinating Organization(s):  Health Products Stewardship Association

 

Reporting Tips
  • In BC, Saskatchewan, and Ontario report all containers from pharmaceutical products supplied to residential consumers to Recycle BC and MMSW and Stewardship Ontario, respectively.
  • In Manitoba, do not report any pharmaceutical containers supplied to residential consumers that meet the definition of Pharmaceuticals in the respective provincial regulation. Report any containers from pharmaceutical products that are exempt from the pharmaceutical definition, such as contact lens disinfectants, anti-dandruff products and shampoos, cosmetics, antiperspirants, antiseptic or medicated skin-care products, sunburn protectants, mouthwashes, fluoridated toothpastes.

 

1.9.3 What is paper product?

All provinces include the paper product category (this category is called ‘paper’ in the Saskatchewan MMSW Program  and ‘printed paper’ in the Ontario Blue Box Program) as part of the designated materials in their PPP stewardship programs. As outlined in the table in 1.9.1, this category has slightly different definitions from province to province as follows:

As outlined in the table in 1.9.1, this category has slightly different definitions from province to province as follows:

  • In BC, ‘paper product’ means paper of any description including flyers, brochures, booklets, catalogues, telephone directories, newspapers, magazines, paper fibre and paper used for copying, writing or any other general use. Excluded from this definition is paper that by virtue of its anticipated use could become unsafe or unsanitary to recycle as well as bound literary and reference books.
  • In SK, ‘paper’ means paper of any description such as flyers, brochures, booklets, catalogues, telephone directories, magazines, paper fibre and paper used for copying, writing or any other general use. Excluded from this definition are paper products that, by virtue of their anticipated use, could become unsafe or unsanitary to recycle.
  • In MB, ‘printed paper’ includes newsprint, magazines and catalogues, directories and other printed materials. This does not include paper sold as product (such as purchased calendars, envelopes, greeting cards, paper used for copying, writing or other general use).
  • In ON, ‘printed paper’ is not defined in the regulation but, as outlined in the Blue Box Program Plan, all printed paper is designated as Blue Box waste. In ON the program does not include paper sold as product (such as purchased calendars, envelopes, greeting cards, paper used for copying, writing paper, computer paper, or other general use).

Recognizing the slight variations in the definitions of this category across provinces, for the purposes of harmonization, this category will hereafter be referred to as paper product and will include all paper regardless of its cellulosic fibre source including but not limited to: wood, wheat, rice, cotton, bananas, eucalyptus, bamboo, hemp and sugar cane (bagasse) fibre sources.

This category includes (but is not limited to) the following types of paper products: newspapers, brochures, receipts, catalogues, flyers, customer statements, magazines and telephone directories.

Bound reference books, bound literary books, bound textbooks are excluded from all programs. Also excluded from all programs is paper which may be unsafe or unsanitary to recycle such as paper towel or toilet paper (the paper towel and toilet paper roll is however an designated material and must be reported).

The following table illustrates what is included in the paper product category in each provincial program and will be updated as new stewardship programs are introduced in other provinces.

Product Category BC SK MB ON
Newspapers, magazines, catalogues image image* image image
Textbooks image image image image
Paper towel or toilet paper sold as product image image image image
Purchased greeting cards image image image image
Paper used for copying, writing or any other general use image image image image
Purchased calendars image image image image
Free promotional calendars image image image image
Note books and daily planners image image image image
Other printed paper image image image image

*Newspapers that have a gross revenue of less than $2 million, or generate less than one tonne of paper, are permanently exempted from the program in Saskatchewan.

1.9.4 What does “supplied to the residential consumer” mean?

Supplied to the residential consumer means that the paper product, or the product associated with the packaging material, was directly or indirectly (through a retail chain or distributor) sold, leased, donated or otherwise made available or distributed for use (for free or otherwise) to a residential consumer where the residential consumer is the end-user.

Packaging and paper product is directly or indirectly supplied to residential consumers through a variety of channels such as:

  • Grocery retailers
  • General/mass merchandise retailers
  • Drug and pharmacy retailers
  • Convenience and gas station retailers
  • Club, wholesale, cash-and-carry
  • Direct delivery of products sold via the Internet, e-commerce catalogue or telephone
  • On-premise factory stores for public or employees
  • Direct home sales including products that move through cooperative arrangements
  • Sales by independent sales contractors
  • Service utility companies (gas, electric, insurance, banks, telephone, etc.)
  • Newspapers and subscriptions
  • Unsolicited materials delivered/distributed directly to households

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