Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a provincial policy that shifts the costs of managing recyclable materials and household hazardous waste from municipalities to producers.
This means the companies and organizations that make and sell certain products and packaging are also responsible for collecting and recycling those materials when consumers dispose of them.
Extended Producer Responsibility is currently in effect .
From a resident perspective, the implementation of EPR in Edmonton will have minimal service impacts.
If you have issues with your recycling collection or dropping off household hazardous waste, please contact 311.
The main impacts residents will see are:
- A reduced Waste Utility Rate, which took effect in January 2025.
- Minimal changes to recyclable materials we accept. Please continue to check WasteWise for the most up-to-date information on what goes where.
- Mixed, bagged recycling is now accepted at recycling depots, so residents will no longer need to separate their recyclables when dropping off materials at these locations.
While the City is no longer responsible for service and policy decisions, our staff, equipment and facilities will still be used for recycling in Edmonton. This means residents can continue to expect the same high-quality recycling services they have come to rely on from the staff and at locations they already know.
How will EPR work in Edmonton?
Extended Producer Responsibility will impact:
- Recycling (anything you put in your blue bag)
- Household hazardous waste (electronics, household chemicals, batteries and anything else you would drop off at an Eco Station)
The producers of these materials work together with Producer Responsibility Organizations - PROs - to coordinate and fund recycling collection, drop off and processing services for residents, instead of the residents funding them through the waste utility.
Producer Responsibility Organizations Responsibilities
The PRO’s job is to organize and oversee the collection and processing of the material. They then report back to the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) on behalf of the producers. ARMA oversees recycling in Alberta, and they are responsible for ensuring producer compliance.
The PROs operating in Edmonton include:
- Circular Materials: for single-use, packaging and paper products (PPP)
- Product Care Recycling: for hazardous and special products (HSP)
- Call2Recycle: for batteries and e-waste
Other waste streams like food scraps and garbage are not affected by EPR, and remain a responsibility of the City of Edmonton.
Frequently Asked Questions
No immediate changes are expected to Eco Station use and Recycling Depots will now accept mixed recycling, which means no more sorting!
Once EPR takes effect, any future service changes will be determined by PROs. These could include changes to residential recycling collection, waste drop-off facilities, and waste education and outreach programs. The City will inform residents of any anticipated changes should the need arise.
No immediate changes to curbside recycling are anticipated. In the longer term, PROs will determine any future service changes, such as the use of carts for recycling.
EPR focuses on the residential sector. Waste and recycling management in the business sector will not be impacted by this regulation.
The City is currently looking at ways to reduce waste in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional sector of the City, so businesses are encouraged to participate in upcoming Public Engagement opportunities. These organizations can visit Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Waste for more information.
There is no anticipated impact on the single-use items bylaw. EPR impacts the producers of single-use items, so it may encourage further waste reduction. The single-use items bylaw mainly regulates businesses and event organizers on specific products, whereas EPR is a program aimed at a wider variety of materials and products. No impacts to the bylaw are therefore expected.