Circular Materials releases 2023 producer fees for New Brunswick

As Circular Materials prepares for the November 1, 2023 launch of its New Brunswick program to handle packaging and paper products on behalf of producers, it recently released its 2023 New Brunswick fee rates. The fees will cover the final two months of 2023 while the 2024 fees will be released on October 31, 2023. As predicted, the small size of New Brunswick, along with the lack of sophisticated infrastructure in all parts of the province; combined with the fact that New Brunswick’s program will be 100% producer funded, has resulted in high producer fees. The fees are higher than in other provinces with paper plastic packaging (PPP) programs but it must be noted that most of these other PPP programs are not 100% producer funded. The fees for the New Brunswick program are most similar (although generally higher) to the existing program in British Columbia (which is also 100% producer funded). More information regarding the fee-setting methodology and the 2023 invoice schedule can be found on the Circular Materials website, on its New Brunswick Program page.

As Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island will eventually embark on their own PPP programs, RCC continues to advocate for the Atlantic Provinces (or at least the three Maritime Provinces) to use a regional lens and work together to create operational efficiencies and economies of scale from the PPP programs on the East Coast.