Why Alberta's new and enhanced recycling system matters

Alberta, your recycling system is getting a refresh!

Starting Oct. 1, the province is moving its residential recycling program for packaging and paper products to an extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework, bringing a more consistent and accessible approach to recycling from coast to coast within the province.

Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit organization, will be responsible for delivering Alberta’s recycling program on behalf of producers. This shift will expand recycling across the entire province, making recycling more consistent, accessible, and effective, while also advancing the circular economy.

And the shift isn’t just good news for the environment — it could also mean a change for Alberta’s municipalities and taxpayers.

Municipalities and taxpayers will no longer pay for recycling services as Alberta’s new EPR recycling program is 100% funded by producers – the companies that supply packaging and paper products to consumers in Alberta, including the familiar brands and retailers Albertans interact with every day.

As of October 1, paper cups are a newly accepted material for recycling in Alberta under the new EPR regulation. (Image via Circular Materials)

In fact, producers are expected to take on approximately $110 million in annual recycling costs that were previously covered by municipalities and taxpayers. But the benefits go beyond who picks up the tab.

The new system can also help drive continued investment in recycling infrastructure, spark innovation in packaging, and improve how recyclable materials are recovered. That means more materials diverted from landfills and a stronger, more efficient recycling system built to deliver for Alberta for years to come.

Key enhancements

The first new enhancement is a curbside recycling service. More communities in Alberta receive this collection service for the first time, making it more convenient for households to participate in recycling and help keep valuable materials out of landfills. As more residents take part in recycling, more packaging and paper products can be collected, processed and returned to producers to make new products and packaging, keeping resources in use longer.

Residents will also benefit from a unified and expanded list of accepted recyclable materials across the province. Albertans will now be able to recycle the same items no matter where they are in the province, and recycle new items like foam packaging, flexible plastic packaging, aerosol containers, laminated paper and plastic packaging, deodorant sticks, toothpaste tubes and glass containers. It’s all about simplifying recycling, reducing confusion and contamination, and helping to improve participation.

Next, the whole province will be moving to a single-stream recycling system. Instead of needing to separate by material type, households will be able to place paper, plastics, glass and metal products all together for recycling. Easy!

This streamlined approach is expected to further encourage participation while improving the efficiency of collection services.

Building a smarter recycling system

Recycling bin set out for curbside collection in Alberta. (Image via Circular Materials)

A smarter recycling system needs the infrastructure to match. That’s why significant investments are being made to upgrade Alberta’s recycling capabilities, including two new state-of-the-art preconditioning recycling facilities (PCFs) — one in Edmonton, operated by WM, and another in Calgary, operated by GFL Environmental. Both facilities are expected to open in early 2027.

These new facilities will use advanced mechanical and optical sorting technology to identify and separate more types of recyclables with better accuracy. With improved systems and equipment, staff can work more efficiently, leading to better sorting, more material recovery and higher-quality recycled materials. These materials can then be returned to producers for use in new products and packaging, helping reduce the need for new resources and supporting a more circular economy.

As Alberta joins a growing number of Canadian provinces and territories implementing EPR, these investments are helping lay the groundwork for the future of recycling. By modernizing infrastructure, expanding access and creating a more consistent experience for residents, Alberta is building a system designed to keep more materials out of landfills and in circulation.

That means a recycling system that works better for Albertans today and for generations to come.

To view the new unified and expanded material list and to learn more about Circular Materials and Alberta’s new recycling program, visit the Circular Materials website.