Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said he was disappointed that the recent meeting in Busan, Republic of Korea, which included 170 nations, did not reach a conclusion regarding a global treaty to address plastic pollution. Global talks will resume in 2025.
Global efforts notwithstanding, Canada continues to move forward on the federal and provincial levels to address plastics in the environment.
Provinces and Territories (with the exception of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories) continue to enact their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. In Ontario, the EPR is administered via the RPRA’s Blue Box Program. The Ontario Blue Box program, established in July 2023, had its first enforcement action one year later.
Under the Ontario Blue Box program, producers became fully accountable and financially responsible for collecting and recycling their Blue Box materials when consumers discard them.
Federal Plastics Registry Reporting in 2025
For the regulated community, their attention has turned to the Federal Plastics Registry. The information gathering for the federal program will begin in about 10 months’ time (September 2025) and is intended to support Canada’s EPR policy. The EPR aims to improve waste reduction and recycling activities by extending a producer’s physical and financial responsibility for a product to the post-consumer stage of its lifecycle (e.g., the end of the product’s useful life when it becomes waste) Source: McMillan LLP.
Below is a summary of the federal reporting requirements. For additional information, follow the hyperlinks to specific sections in the Canada Gazette announcement.
Categories of Products Subject to Federal Plastics Registry Reporting (Schedule 1)
- Resins involved in the manufacturing of plastics, and products containing such resins. This includes specific resins based on the North American Product Classification System and specific resin sources. (Part 1 and 2).
- Ridged and flexible plastic packaging filled and unfilled. This includes beverage containers, food contact material, packing for hazardous material, etc. (Part 3)
- Electronic and electrical equipment. This includes telecommunication devices, consumer media, appliances, toys, sports equipment, photovoltaic panels, tires, vehicles, windows, paints, coatings, agricultural containers, maple syrup tubing and taps….this list is lengthy. (Part 4)
Criteria for Reporting (Schedule 3)
(1) A person who manufactures, imports, and places plastic resins as listed in Schedule 1, Parts 1 and 2 on the market in Canada.
(2) A person who is a producer of plastic products as listed in Schedule 1, Parts 3 or 4.
(3) A person who is a generator of packaging and plastic product waste at their industrial, commercial or institutional facility.
(4) A person who is a service provider for the management of plastics or plastic products listed in Schedule 1, Parts 3 or 4, including, without limitation, via the following activities:
(a) collecting or hauling
(b) arranging for direct reuse
(c) refurbishing
(d) repairing
(e) remanufacturing
(f) mechanical recycling
(g) chemical recycling
(h) processing into chemicals, including fuels
(i) composting
(j) incineration with energy recovery
(k) incineration for industrial processes
(l) incineration without energy recovery
(m) landfilling

Reporting for the Federal Plastics Registry begins in September 2025.
Exemptions
(5) Notwithstanding (1) to (4), a person is exempt from reporting under this notice if said person
- Manufactures, imports or places on the market less than 1 000 kg of plastic products or packaging per calendar year.
- Generates less than 1000 kg of packaging and plastic product waste at their industrial, commercial or institutional facility per calendar year.
- Manages less than 1000 kg of plastic via the activities listed in (4)(a) to (m) per calendar year.
Reported Information (Schedule 4)
Administrative Section 1-6 of Schedule 1
For manufacturers or importers of plastic resins Section 7 of Schedule 1
For producers of plastic packaging or other plastic products Sections 3 and 4 of Schedule 1
For producers of plastic packaging or other plastic products Parts 3 and 4 of Schedule 1
Generators of packaging or plastic product waste at an industrial, commercial or institutional facility must report: the total quantity in kilograms of plastic in all packaging and products, by resin, category and subcategory, where applicable, generated at their premises and sent for diversion or final disposal and the method used to determine the quantities
Producers or a service provider of plastics or plastic products must report the total quantity in kilograms of plastic, by resin, category and subcategory, where applicable, collected at end of life and sent for diversion or disposal. They must report the total quantity in kilograms of plastics, by resin, category and subcategory
This is a brief overview and more details are found in the Canada Gazette Notice. If you are not sure if this applies, you may want to confer with legal and technical advisors.
If you need assistance with an environmental issue, contact Christopher Paré, P.Geo., Q.P., at 519-948-7300, Ext. 114.
Dragun Corporation does not use artificial intelligence in drafting our blogs or any other material.
Alan Hahn drafted this blog. Alan has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and completed a graduate program in Environmental Management. He has worked in environmental management for more than 45 years. He has written hundreds of blogs and articles. His published work includes HazMat Magazine, BizX Magazine, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, GreenStone Partners, Manure Manager Magazine, and Progressive Dairy.
Christopher Paré, P.Geo, reviewed this blog. Chris is a senior geoscientist and manager of Dragun’s Windsor, Ontario, office. Chris has more than 30 years of experience on projects ranging from environmental site assessments (Phase One/Two ESA), excess soils, remedial investigations, soil and groundwater remediation, Permits to Take Water, Records of Site Conditions, vapour intrusion, and site decommissioning. Chris is a frequent speaker, author, and expert witness. See Chris’ bio.
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