SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): Alberta cities are getting themselves ready to embrace the implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR). The revolutionary legislation to implement EPR was passed by Alberta in October last year. It must be noted that Alberta is the last province in Canada to pass the EPR legislation.
A panel discussion on EPR implementation was held recently at the Edmonton Convention Centre, as part of the 2023 Alberta Municipalities convention. Close to 100 people participated in the event.
Addressing the conference, Jaclyn Schmidt of Alberta Environment’s water and waste policy branch said that EPR is expected to encourage producers to reduce packaging waste. The implementation is slated for 2025. The cities will use the remaining time for the shift to the new system.
The Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) noted that the communities with curbside recycling who pre-register will switch to new recycling service on 1st April, 2025. Regions with depot-only recycling who register after 31st December, 2023 will switch to the new program effective 1st October, 2026. Also, communities are allowed to carry on with their own local recycling programs without joining the EPR program, ARMA noted.
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