Spotlight on Alberta – EPR Implementation!
After a year spent writing about sustainable projects around the world, the Green Initiatives Committee is going to keep it local this year and focus on projects closer to home. Each month, we will highlight a project or an initiative to shine a light on what Calgary is doing to protect the environment and advance towards a sustainable future.
This month we’re discussing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, which launched recently in Alberta on April 1, 2025, so it reaches beyond just Calgary. The program has been in the works for a while with the governing provincial regulation developed back in 2022 and bylaws in 2023, and this first phase (April 2025) includes 90% of Albertans.
The purpose of the program is to shift the financial burden of recycling single-use plastics, paper and packaging away from municipalities and consumers, and back onto the companies that produce them. The intent is to encourage companies to become more efficient, recycle more materials, and reduce packaging waste. As per the Government of Alberta website (https://www.alberta.ca/extended-producer-responsibility), the EPR program empowers and encourages companies to:
• Develop local markets for recycling and improve access for communities
• Design cost-efficient recycling programs
• Demonstrate environmental responsibility
With this shift in many aspects of recycling costs from municipalities to producers, many communities have indicated that residential recycling fees will likely be lowered under EPR. For example, the City of Calgary has stated the expected savings is about $7 per month as the blue cart costs would drop down to only about $2 per month (https://www.calgary.ca/waste/residential/extended-producer-responsibility.html?redirect=/epr). Changes to the fee will appear on the ENMAX bill. Blue cart pickups in Calgary will continue weekly with acceptance of the same recyclable materials as previously. Community recycling depots will also continue to be available for oversized items and extra recyclables. Another benefit is that there is planned to be a standard list of recyclable materials across the province.
The EPR program is also bringing recycling to some Alberta communities for the first time, indicating that provincial recycling coverage is expected to increase. The Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) is the designated organization providing oversight to the EPR systems in Alberta. ARMA has managed and regulated Alberta recycling programs for used oil, paint, tires, and electronics for more than 30 years, so they have plenty of recycling experience.
Remember that another one of the best ways you can support the circular economy is to consider recycled content when you’re purchasing items (or purchase used products when appropriate), so that we continue to increase the market demand for products made of recycled materials. For example, if you’re purchasing something online, you can type “recycled” before the search item, to help show online demand. Many products are now being better designed for our current and future recycling systems, so recyclability is another purchasing consideration.
We hope that you enjoy touring locally with us this year. If you want to get involved and be a part of making Mount Pleasant a greener community, we would love to have you join the committee. Please email [email protected] for more information or to get added to our email list; you can also find us on the Mount Pleasant Community Association page as well.
Have a great month,
The MPCA Green Initiatives Committee
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