L-R: Searle Turton, Ed Gugenheimer, Christina Seidel and Minister Nixon - Photo supplied by Alberta Gov't.

By Sheldon Spackman

Bill 83

New legislation aims to improve Alberta’s waste management approach

Nov 18, 2021 | 9:25 AM

EDMONTON, AB. — New provincial legislation is aiming to strengthen Alberta’s waste management approach to help create jobs and keep plastics in the economy instead of creating environmental waste.

If passed, the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Amendment Act (EPR) would set the foundation for Alberta’s government to implement an extended producer responsibility framework in 2022.

Officials say an EPR framework would create provincial systems for managing single-use plastics, packaging, paper products and hazardous and special products like household pesticides and solvents. This would shift the physical and financial role of collecting, sorting, processing and recycling waste to the industries that produce products instead of local governments and taxpayers, say government officials.

Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon, says it’s anticipated to contribute to increased recycling in Alberta, which is estimated to inject up to $1.4 billion into the economy and support about 13,300 jobs.

“Right now, and for too long, municipalities and taxpayers have been shouldering the burden of collecting, sorting, processing and recycling waste. We’re moving Alberta forward with legislation that will make producers of the waste responsible for the system in a way that creates a big opportunity to diversify the plastics economy.”

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Officials say an EPR framework would help diversify Alberta’s economy by encouraging companies to find innovative ways to recycle more materials and produce less waste and packaging. It would also be expected to bring Alberta in line with producer-run programs in other jurisdictions, including British Columbia, helping empower producers to create local recycling markets, design cost-effective and efficient recycling programs, get the most value for their products and demonstrate environmental responsibility.

The new framework would also aim to support Alberta’s transition to a plastics circular economy by growing markets and attracting investment in plastics recycling. The plastics circular economy is said to be a key part of Alberta’s Natural Gas Vision and Strategy and contributes to Alberta’s recovery in positive ways.

In spring 2021, Alberta’s government gathered input on the design of an extended producer responsibility approach. Key feedback has been summarized in a What We Heard report. Stakeholders and the public are invited to provide comments and additional input to help inform Alberta’s EPR framework by Dec. 15.

Christina Seidel, executive director, Recycling Council of Alberta noted, “EPR is a critical and proven step in accelerating our transition to a circular economy, keeping valuable materials out of landfills while driving investment in our province, bolstering economic activity, creating jobs and saving taxpayer dollars. It creates the conditions for innovation and leadership, empowering producers to design products with less environmental impacts and positioning our province as Canadian leaders in waste prevention and recycling.”

Ed Gugenheimer, CEO, of the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA), says the EPR is a natural and necessary next step for Alberta.

” At ARMA, we’re encouraged by the support from Albertans and industry in recognizing that it’s time we look deeper into what a made-for-Alberta EPR framework could be. Alberta is ready for solutions that enable product development but minimize the impact it has on our environment.”

Diane J. Brisebois, president and CEO, Retail Council of Canada, says her organization’s members recognize the important environmental outcomes that result from industry-led EPR.

“We look forward to contributing our insights, experience and best practices from other jurisdictions, as we continue to collaborate in the development of an effective and efficient made-in-Alberta framework.”

Angela Duncan, interim president, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), believes EPR will benefit Albertans, municipalities and our province’s environment and economy for generations to come.

“We look forward to working with the provincial government and other key stakeholders to make it a reality.”

Paul McLauchlin, president, of Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), says the made-in-Alberta EPR program will bring many benefits to rural municipalities and help transition Alberta to a circular economy.

“RMA looks forward to continuing to work with the Government of Alberta and key stakeholders to ensure that Alberta’s EPR program has a comparable level of service at a comparable level of cost in urban and rural municipalities. It will be important to ensure that the EPR program makes recycling available to all Albertans.”

Quick facts

• Albertans send 1,034 kilograms per person of waste to landfills annually – more than any other Canadian jurisdiction. The national average is 710 kilograms per year.
• The EPR framework would help Alberta transition to a plastics circular economy and achieve one of the goals outlined in the Natural Gas Vision and Strategy for Alberta to become a North American centre of excellence for plastics diversion and recycling by 2030.

NDP Critic for Environment Marlin Schmidt issued the following statement in response to Bill 83 the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act:

“After almost two years of signaling progress on improving waste management to municipalities, organizations, and out-of-province investors, today the UCP made zero progress on moving the province toward introducing an extended producer responsibility framework.

“Having an effective EPR framework in Alberta would mean less waste in our landfills, and less burden on sorting and managing these systems for municipalities.

“We need regulations, and now the UCP are saying these won’t be coming until maybe the spring. To continue making steps towards taking care of our environment and our impact on it, the time for the UCP to make progress on this was yesterday.

“The UCP has a history of over-promising and under delivering, and this is yet another bill from this government that is no more than a plan to make a plan. I would like to see the government move quickly on designing regulations for an EPR framework so we can ensure Alberta is producing responsibility, as that is regulation we would support at the NDP.”