Kara Sears
Canada has an extremely high rate of plastic waste, with 3 million tonnes generated per year. In 2019, only 9% of waste in Canada was recycled, with British Columbia having the highest recycling rate at 69%. While there is no mandatory law across Canada that enforces recycling for homeowners, governments across the country are developing strategies to achieve zero plastic waste. This has resulted in a proliferation of regulations by all orders of government, with sometimes overlapping measures, such as federal and municipal bans on single-use plastics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is recycling mandatory for homeowners? | No, recycling depends on people making the choice to do so. |
| Recycling rate in 2019 | 9% |
| Recycling rate in 2012 | 26.8% |
| Provinces with the highest recycling rate in 2019 | British Columbia (69%) |
| Types of curbside collection systems | Blue box, wheeled blue bin, green bin, grey box, compost and waste bins, blue bags |
| Provinces with blue box recycling systems | Ontario (excluding Toronto), British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Manitoba |
| Cities with wheeled blue bin systems | Toronto, Calgary, Essex-Windsor, Winnipeg |
| Cities with green bin systems | Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, Hamilton, Montreal, Halifax Regional Municipality, Durham Region, Barrie, Ontario, British Columbia |
| Cities with grey box systems | North York, Ontario, Barrie, Ontario |
| Cities with compost and waste bins and blue bags | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Cities with blue bag systems | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Items recycled | Glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, some plastics, tires, paint, oil, electronics, Christmas trees, construction waste |
| Regulatory measures | Federal and municipal bans on single-use plastics, minimum recycled content requirements, accurate labelling rules, local bans on SUPs |
| Upcoming federal regulations | Recycled content and labelling rules for products |
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What You'll Learn
Recycling rates in Canada
Canada is facing a challenge due to plastic pollution's impact on the environment and human health. In 2018, the Canadian government committed to the international Oceans Plastic Charter, an informal agreement to reduce plastic pollution and increase the amount of recycled plastic on the market. However, the country is struggling to meet these targets without reducing plastic consumption.
In 2021, Canadians threw away about 3.3 million tonnes of plastic, with only 9% being recycled. This is a slight improvement from 2004, when the recycling rate was 7%. There are also variations in recycling rates between provinces, with Ontario and Quebec recycling the largest quantities of materials, and Nova Scotia and British Columbia having higher recycling rates per person.
To address the plastic waste issue, the federal government is calling for a "circular economy", which would involve scaling up existing recycling facilities and technologies. The government has also introduced the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPR) and is developing rules to prevent false environmental claims, or "greenwashing".
In 2022, the government published a Notice of Intent to introduce regulations requiring minimum recycled content in certain plastic manufactured items. This was followed by a Consultation Paper in July 2022, which sought feedback on proposed rules for recyclability and compostability labelling. The government has also hosted webinars and technical sessions to engage stakeholders and the public on these issues.
In April 2023, the government published the Recycled Content and Labelling Rules for Plastics Regulatory Framework Paper, which outlines a regulatory framework for plastic packaging and certain single-use plastics. The framework includes recycled content requirements and labelling rules for recyclability and compostability.
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Provincial recycling programs
While there is no mandatory law in Canada that enforces recycling for homeowners, each province has different regulations on what can be recycled.
Alberta
The Alberta Recycling Management Authority (also known as "Alberta Recycling") is a body set up by the Government of Alberta under the Ministry of the Environment to coordinate recycling in the province. It administers the surcharge that has been added to the price of electronics, paint, and tires sold in the province since 2005 to pay for the recycling of those products in Alberta. It also helps to manage the province's household hazardous waste disposal program.
The Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) is responsible for recycling beverage containers. Beverage container recycling regulations were first introduced province-wide in 1972, but the BCMB was created in 1997 to create a provincial oversight body for the industry. The BCMB oversees two non-profit corporations that process the materials, the Alberta Beer Container Corporation (ABCC) for standard-sized beer bottles (which reuses rather than recycles the bottles) and the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARM) for other beverage containers.
The Recycling Council of Alberta, a registered charity, has promoted recycling in Alberta since 1987. Curbside recycling of newsprint, cardboard, plastic packaging, and other non-food household wastes is the responsibility of the individual municipalities of Alberta. Most of Alberta's most populous municipalities have blue box, blue bag, or blue bin recycling container programs. Edmonton, for example, began a pilot project in curbside recycling for single-family houses in 1986 and adopted it citywide in 1988.
British Columbia
British Columbia has the highest recycling rate in Canada, at 69 percent as of 2019. In 2021, Edmonton transitioned from a bag to a cart system for garbage and food waste collection. On September 10, 2020, the Edmonton city council approved a 25-year waste strategy to reduce landfill waste by 90%.
Ontario
In 1981, Resource Integration Systems (RIS) in collaboration with Laidlaw International tested the first blue box recycling system on 1500 homes in Kitchener, Ontario. Due to the success of the project, the City of Kitchener put out a contract for public bid in 1984 for a recycling system citywide. Laidlaw won the bid and continued with the popular blue box recycling system. Today, hundreds of cities around the world use the blue box system or a similar variation.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan has intervened, along with Alberta, in a case against the federal Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (the SUPR) that came into force on December 20, 2022.
Quebec and Manitoba
Both Quebec and Manitoba use the blue box system for curbside recycling.
Federal Regulations
The federal government is also taking steps to reduce the impact of plastics on the environment. On February 11, 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada published a Notice of Intent to develop regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to require minimum recycled content in certain plastic manufactured items. On July 25, 2022, they published a consultation paper seeking feedback on the development of a regulation under CEPA that would outline rules for recyclability and compostability labelling of plastic packaging and single-use plastics. On April 18, 2023, they published the Recycled Content and Labelling Rules for Plastics Regulatory Framework Paper, which outlines a regulatory framework for plastic packaging and certain single-use plastics that includes recycled content requirements and labelling rules for recyclability and compostability.
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Single-use plastic regulations
Canada is taking significant steps to address the challenge posed by plastic pollution and its impact on the environment and human health. The country has set an ambitious target of achieving zero plastic waste by 2030 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these goals, the federal government, along with provincial and territorial governments, is implementing a range of regulations and strategies to reduce the use of single-use plastics and promote recycling.
On December 20, 2022, the federal Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPR or SUPPR) came into force. These regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, sale, and eventual export of six categories of single-use plastic (SUP) items: checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware made from or containing problematic plastics, ring carriers, stir sticks, and straws. The regulations include an exception for single-use plastic flexible straws, ensuring their availability for those who need them.
The Government of Canada has developed guidance documents to assist businesses and organizations in transitioning away from single-use plastics. These documents outline important considerations for selecting alternative products or systems that prevent plastic pollution and promote a circular economy. The guidance reflects best practices and provides a framework for evaluating the environmental impact of single-use plastics to choose appropriate management measures.
In addition to federal regulations, several provincial and municipal governments in Canada have also implemented their own bans and restrictions on SUPs. For example, the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan have intervened to contest the enactment of SUPR. Cities like Vancouver, Montréal, Sherbrooke, and smaller municipalities have banned SUP checkout bags, while Edmonton has announced plans to regulate a range of single-use items. These local initiatives demonstrate a widespread commitment to reducing plastic waste across Canada.
Upcoming federal regulations will also focus on recycled content and labelling rules for products. These rules will require minimum recycled content in certain plastic manufactured items and introduce accurate labelling to prevent "greenwashing." The proposed regulations aim to strengthen market demand for recycled content, provide quality recycled plastics, and ensure transparent information through labelling. Canada is taking a comprehensive approach to address the entire lifecycle of plastics and promote a sustainable future.
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Environmental impact of plastic waste
Plastic waste has become a pressing environmental issue, with an overwhelming rise in disposable plastic products. Plastic pollution is prevalent in natural and built environments, and its impact on the environment and human health has prompted governments across Canada to develop strategies to achieve zero plastic waste.
The convenience of plastics has led to a throw-away culture, with single-use plastics accounting for 40% of the plastic produced annually. These products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, are used briefly but persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastic waste is ubiquitous, with plastic trash escaping into oceans, rivers, and other waterways. Once in the ocean, plastic waste is challenging, if not impossible, to retrieve. It breaks down into microplastics, which are ingested by marine life, potentially impacting fish populations and causing serious health issues. Research has found microplastics in human organs, and chemicals from plastics can leach into tap water, potentially causing various health disorders.
To address plastic waste, Canada has proposed minimum recycled content requirements and introduced laws to regulate environmental claims on products to prevent "greenwashing." The federal government and municipalities have implemented bans on single-use plastics, with a focus on plastic bags, utensils, and food containers. These measures aim to strengthen market demand for recycled plastics, improve recycling systems, and reduce plastic waste in landfills and the environment.
While these efforts are underway, plastic production is expected to double by 2050, exacerbating the plastic pollution crisis. The best way to mitigate this crisis is to prevent plastics from entering waterways through improved waste management, better product design, and reduced manufacturing of single-use plastics.
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Recycling laws for homeowners
While there is no mandatory law across Canada that actively enforces recycling for homeowners, recycling laws and regulations are enforced by each province. The primary recyclable items in Canada include glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and some plastics. However, each province has different regulations regarding what can be recycled. For instance, some provinces accept materials such as paint, tires, and oil for recycling, while others do not. Therefore, it is important to check with your local recycling facility about their capabilities and the specific regulations in your province.
In recent years, the Canadian government has been taking steps to address the issue of plastic pollution and its impact on the environment and human health. On December 20, 2022, the federal Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPR) came into force, with the goal of reducing the use of single-use plastics. This regulation has resulted in local bans on single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, utensils, and food containers, in several cities, including Victoria, Vancouver, Jasper, and Montréal.
Additionally, the Canadian government has proposed minimum recycled content requirements, aiming to mandate that plastic packaging in Canada contains at least 50% recycled content by 2030. These regulations would also include labeling rules for plastic packaging and single-use plastics, prohibiting the use of the chasing-arrows symbol and other recyclability claims unless the majority of Canadians have reliable access to recycling systems for these materials.
To further promote recycling and address environmental concerns, the government is also working to introduce laws regulating environmental claims on products. This is in response to the issue of "greenwashing," where consumers are misled into believing that a product is environmentally friendly when it may not be.
Overall, while there is no nationwide legal requirement for homeowners to recycle in Canada, the government is actively working to promote recycling and reduce plastic waste through various regulations and initiatives. These efforts are driven by the goal of achieving zero plastic waste by 2030 and creating a more sustainable future for the country.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no mandatory law across Canada that actively enforces recycling for homeowners. However, there are various recycling programs and regulations that have been implemented by municipalities and provinces.
Most mid to large municipalities in most provinces have recycling programs that rely on curbside collection with either bins, boxes, or bags. Certain provinces have container-deposit systems for beverage containers, and some have implemented local bans on single-use plastics. Additionally, there are regulations for the recycling of electronics, paint, and tires in certain provinces.
The primary recyclable items in Canada include glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, and some plastics. However, it's important to note that each province has different regulations on what can be recycled.
