Recycling Regulation amendments and initiatives

Last updated on June 29, 2023

The Recycling Regulation, under authority of the Environmental Management Act, sets out the requirements for B.C.'s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Regulated packaging and products are defined in the Recycling Regulation.

New items are added by:

Changing existing product categories, or
Including new product categories

EPR 5-Year Action Plan 2021 to 2026

The Extended Producer Responsibility 5-Year Action Plan (PDF, 2.6MB) outlines priorities B.C. must take to advance as a leader in EPR and waste prevention.

These actions include:

Adding more products to the Recycling Regulation
Researching opportunities and policy options for how packaging and paper can be diverted from industrial, commercial and institutional sectors

EPR public engagement 2020

To make sure the development of B.C.’s EPR action plan was well informed, the ministry consulted with key partners and stakeholders about regulating more products for recycling under EPR and other waste-prevention policy approaches.

Review more about the results of these public engagement sessions:

Recycling Regulation amendments

Deposit-refund system expansion

To keep more containers out of landfills and waterways, the Recycling Regulation has expanded the deposit refund system to:

Change the minimum refundable deposit on all containers to 10 cents
- Already in effect
Cover all beverage containers, including milk and milk substitutes
- Starting February 1, 2022

Review more about these amendments and how they were introduced:

Single-use and more packaging products

Starting on January 1, 2023, the Recycling Regulation will cover more single-use items and packaging products.

For example:

Stir sticks, straws and utensils
Party supplies, such as paper streamers, pinwheels and pinatas
Sandwich and freezer bags
Cardboard moving boxes

Review more about these amendments and how they were introduced:

Contact us

Need help or more information?

Contact ExtendedProducerResponsibility@gov.bc.ca.

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