EPR roll out will improve packaging recyclability and save residents money
For Immediate Release
EPR roll out will improve packaging recyclability and save residents money
February 26, 2025 – Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a game changer for municipalities and the recycling industry in the province. Among the many benefits of EPR are potential recycling fee savings for residents.
At a City Council meeting on February 25, 2025, the City of Calgary approved a change in the utility rate for the Blue Cart program to realize these savings. Starting April 1st, residents are set to save $7.17 per month because of producers taking over the recycling program per the EPR regulation.
EPR comes into effect for packaging and paper products (PPP) (or blue bin recyclables) as well as hazardous and special products (HSP) on April 1, 2025. This will be a turning point in residential recycling systems across Alberta.
EPR shifts the responsibility from the municipality to the producer of products and packaging to ensure the materials are properly managed at the end of the material life cycle. One of the aims of EPR is to give producers an incentive to change product design to create less packaging and design it to be more easily recyclable. Producers can continue to look for efficiencies and savings to collect and recycle the packaging while building economies of scale (as they will manage all the PPP materials for the entire province and build scale on a national level).
A 2019 study on the benefits of EPR for Alberta also shows additional benefits in the creation of over 200 jobs, gross value-add to the recycling economy of $116 million, reduced CO2 emissions, a savings of $40 million for municipalities, and a 13% increase in tonnes of materials recycled.
“As the data shows, EPR will have financial and environmental benefits for all Albertans,” states Jennifer Koole, the executive director of the Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA). “The RCA has been advocating for the EPR policy approach for several years as a key tool to advance the circular economy. Our support for the transition will continue after April 1st as municipalities and operators experience the full implementation.”
Residents with existing recycling programs likely won’t experience any changes in their recycling service in the near term. As the program rolls out in the coming years, Albertans will all have the same access to recycling services no matter where they live in the province and recycling will be offered to multi-family dwellings and communities that don’t have recycling currently.
Calgary Councillor, Peter Demong, who has been an active advocate for EPR in the province and received an award from the RCA for his work in 2024, was praised by colleagues at the meeting and called the changes a good news story for all Calgarians.
About the RCA
The Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) is a non-profit member-based organization committed to a waste-free future. With more than 30 years of operations and over 340 private sector, public sector and non-profit members from across Alberta, we believe the future is circular. We work to promote, facilitate and advocate for a circular economy in Alberta. As one of our key deliverables, the Recycling Council of Alberta hosts Canada’s premier Circular Economy Conference each fall and an Explore Circularity Day each spring. We curate a program of presenters that share their cutting-edge projects to inspire attendees’ learning and networking.
Media Inquiries
Tammy Schwass
info@recycle.ab.ca
403-835-6467