Extended Producer Responsibility

Overview

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is exactly what it sounds like. Currently, producers sell products. When those products reach their end of life, they become waste—waste that has previously been managed by municipalities. EPR extends the responsibility of end-of-life products back to producers, saving the municipalities money.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shifts the physical and financial burden of collecting, sorting, processing and recycling waste to the producer and away from local governments and taxpayers. The costs for the recycling system will now be accounted for in the cost of a product—not in property taxes or utility rates.

Benefits of EPR

While EPR is not a new concept for producers or suppliers, it is a new concept for Albertans. EPR presents several positive opportunities for municipalities in Alberta:

Reduced costs for municipalities: The industries that create certain materials will now be responsible for the collection and management of those materials at the end of their product life.

Increased recycling of products: Since producers are responsible for recycling the products they create—they have an incentive to ensure fewer products end up in our landfills or are disposed in other ways. 

Steps towards an Albertan circular economy: Products that previously ended up in the waste stream are redirected and recycled into new products to be used again and again. This means more job creation, more economic investment, and larger economies. Alberta's new EPR framework will diversify our economy by encouraging companies to find innovative ways to recycle more materials and produce less packaging waste.

Once fully implemented on April 1, 2025, the EPR framework will embrace Alberta’s polluter-pay principle and Alberta’s long tradition of supporting innovation. Collection service (curbside or depot) is anticipated to remain similar to the local services Albertans are used to.

Extended Producer Responsibility Systems

Alberta will have 2 EPR systems:

• single-use products, packaging and printed paper products (PPP)
• hazardous and special products (HSP)

Single-use Products, Packaging and Paper Products (PPP)

EPR will include residential products only. Materials from the industrial, commercial and institutional sector are excluded. Examples of single-use products include straws, utensils, plates, bowls, cups, and party supplies. Packaging includes items like food containers, foil, and wraps. Examples of paper products are flyers, brochures, booklets, catalogues, newspapers, and magazines.

Hazardous and Special Products (HSP)

Hazardous and special products include batteries, corrosive products, corrosive product containers, flammable products, flammable product containers, pesticides, pesticide containers, toxic products, and toxic product containers, limited to consumer sizes typically found in retail stores.

Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility here

Frequently Asked Questions

When does this program come into effect for Devon?

• EPR systems for PPP and HSP will be operational on April 1, 2025. 

Why are recycling programs, including Devon’s, changing across Alberta?

• Historically, Alberta’s recycling programs were operated by communities who were responsible for paying the full costs of the program. Now, under the EPR regulation, Alberta is transitioning to a new model where producers – the organizations that produce the products and packaging – are 100% responsible for operating and funding the program

What can I expect from this new EPR system?

• During transition to the new framework, residents will not notice any differences to their curbside recycling schedule and will still be able to recycle the same materials as before plus a few more. The goal is to introduce a more convenient, consistent, and effective recycling program across the province.

Are there any additions to what items can be recycled at curbside and at the Depot?

• Yes, there are several changes, specific to Devon, to be aware of. All of the following items can now be recycled and placed in both your blue bags for curbside collection and at the Depot:
  • All plastic containers (including #3-#7). Note that plastic films and thin flexible plastic (ex. clamshell containers) must still be placed in the garbage.
  • Aseptic containers now accepted for curbside collection and at the Depot
  • All aluminum packaging (i.e. foil) and containers (ex. trays, plates, and cans) will now be accepted for curbside collection and at the Depot
  • See Devon Recycling Handbook for the full list
• More items, currently not allowed in the blue bag, will also be accepted at a later date. Stay tuned for more updates as they take effect.

How will the Devon Recycle Depot be impacted by this new system?

• Because the Recycle Depot already accepts most items for recycling under EPR, there are no major changes expected to take place at Recycle Depot in terms of what items are accepted for recycling.