CCME releases guidance on extended producer responsibility (EPR)

Last week, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) released its long awaited Guidance to Facilitate Consistent Extended Producer Responsibility Policies and Programs for Plastic. The guidance drives direction that EPR programs across Canada should harmonize to have comparable data points, seek the same or analogous outcomes, treat like producers comparably, measure outcomes in a like manner to provide comparable results and operate from the same set of definitions. The guidance also provides direction to have more consistency in EPR policies with regards to definitions, the roles and responsibilities of key players, program accessibility, targets, and ways to measure program performance that will enable efficiencies and improve diversion outcomes.

Ultimately, RCC believes a harmonized approach for EPR across Canada would drive efficiencies, economies of scale, and less confusion amongst residents across the country.