Bill 31 Introduced to Support Recycling and Circular Economy Progress in Alberta

The Government of Alberta has introduced Bill 31 – Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, which includes proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) aimed at improving how recycling programs and circular economy initiatives are managed in the province. 

If passed, the amendments would provide greater flexibility for government to update recycling program materials and introduce tools such as disposal bans for specific materials. These changes are intended to reduce administrative delays, allow faster response to emerging recycling opportunities, and strengthen end-of-life material management in Alberta. 

The bill has now been introduced in the Legislative Assembly and will move through the legislative process in the coming weeks. If approved, the changes would take effect through future updates to regulations, where further details and implementation timelines would be established. 

The full government announcement and additional information on the bill are attached for members’ reference. 

Bill 31, the Red Tape Reduction States Amendment Act, 2026 includes proposed amendments to EPEA to support recycling and circular economy goals, including: 

  • shifting the authority from the Lieutenant Governor in Council to the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas to add, exclude or clarify materials for Alberta’s recycling programs, including stewardship programs and extended producer responsibility systems; and 
  • providing the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas new authority to ban specific material(s) from disposal in a waste management facility, including landfills. 

These proposed amendments reduce red tape, enable more responsiveness to recycling opportunities, and support effective management of materials at end-of-life. 

Information on the Bill 31 is online, including:  

The proposed act changes enable Ministerial authorities. Implementation of these provisions would occur through subsequent amendments to the applicable regulations. 

Top