Mark Youden
Partner
Article
22
In the latter half of 2023, Canadian governments and non-governmental organizations continued to develop innovative product stewardship and extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs with the goal of decreasing the amount of waste otherwise destined for landfills. These programs capture a wide range of product categories, including tires, batteries, electronics, packaging and printed paper (PPP) and beverage containers.
This article is the latest installment of Gowling WLG's ongoing bi-annual series that provides an overview of current developments in Canadian product stewardship and EPR programs.[1]
This review provides updates on new programs, expanded programs, key timelines and shifts from product stewardship to EPR models that took place in the latter half of 2023. We also provide high-level insights into forthcoming EPR and stewardship developments to watch for in early 2024.
In Canada, product stewardship and EPR programs continue to grow in number and scope. Companies must stay on top of these developments to maintain compliance (and to avoid the increasingly heavy enforcement actions available to regulators).
Gowling WLG will continue to monitor the evolution of product stewardship and EPR programs in Canada and publish bi-annual updates of important changes. If you have questions about your company's obligations under these programs, we encourage you to contact any member of our experienced environmental law team.
[1] Please see our previous bi-annual updates: "Canadian product stewardship and EPR : A review of 2021 and beyond"; "Canadian product stewardship and EPR: 2022 summer update"; "Canadian product stewardship and EPR: A review of 2022 and beyond"; and "Canadian product stewardship and EPR: 2023 summer update".
[2] Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation, OIC No. 461, July 14, 2023.
[3] Government of British Columbia, "Zero waste and the circular economy: Plastics", 2023.
[4] Recycling Regulation, OIC No. 635, December 4, 2023. For tire products, a producer is a person who sells, imports, offers for sale or distributes a tire product and the owner or licensee of a trademark under which tire products are sold or distributed. For beverage containers, a producer is a person who manufactures in British Columbia a beverage sold in a container, a manufacturer's agent if manufactured outside of British Columbia, or a distributor or importer of beverage containers. A producer of other product categories is a person who manufacturers and uses in a commercial enterprise, sells, offers for sale, imports or distributes the product, and the owner or licensee of a trademark under which a product is used in a commercial enterprise, sold, offered for sale or distributed.
[5] Alberta Recycling Management Authority, Extended Producer Responsibility Registration.
[6] Alberta Recycling Management Authority, "Extended Producer Responsibility Single‑use Products, Packaging and Paper Products Bylaws", 2023; Alberta Recycling Management Authority, "Hazardous and Special Products Bylaws", 2023.
[7] Government of Saskatchewan, "Tire Recycling and Processing Review Completed With Action Plan Underway", October 18, 2023.
[8] Multi-Material Stewardship Western, "Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Plan – Draft", June 13, 2023.
[9] O Reg 174/23: Blue Box.
[10] Government of Ontario, "Amendments to the blue box regulation to expand deductions for producers", last updated June 29, 2023.
[11] Gazette Officielle du Québec, Part 2, Vol. 155, No. 35 : OC 1369-2023, Recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises – Amendment, August 23, 2023.
[12] Government of Québec, "Implementation of the deposit reform - Quebec expands the deposit to recycle even more materials", November 1, 2023.
[13] Government of Québec, "Draft Strategy for the Reduction and Responsible Management of Plastics in Quebec", November 15, 2023.
[14] Recycle NB, "Packaging and Paper Products", 2023.
[15] Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, "2023-26 Strategic Plan", 2023.
[16] Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations, NS Reg 139/2023.
[17] Divert NS, "Producers of Recyclable Waste".
[18] Divert NS, "Producer Registration Guide – Extended Producer Responsibility for PPP", 2023.
[19] Solid Waste-Resource Management Regulations, NS Reg 138/2023.
[20]Bill 78, Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery Act, 2nd Sess, 19th Ass, Northwest Territories (assented to October 6, 2023).
[21] Government of Northwest Territories, "Plain Language Summary for Bill 78: Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery Act", March 29, 2023.
[22] Bill 28, Act to Amend the Environment Act (2023), 1st Sess, 35th Ass, Yukon (assented to October 23 2023).
[23] Government of Yukon, "Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy", 2020.
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