Canada-Wide Action Plan for Extended Producer ... - CCME

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
In 2006, Statistics Canada data showed Canadians generated almost 1,100 kg of municipal solid
waste per person, up 8 per cent from 2004. This represents about 35 million tonnes, of which just
over 27 million tonnes was sent for disposal in landfills and incinerators and another 7.7 million
tonnes was diverted as recyclables or organics. Nationally the rate of diversion from landfill and
incineration was 22 per cent, with the highest rate of diversion for a provincial jurisdiction being
41 per cent. Since the rate in 2004 was also 22 per cent, this suggests little or no progress in
enhancing the extent or effectiveness of waste recycling and organics programs over that period.
Despite efforts by all levels of governments over the last three decades, Canada’s performance
lags behind other G8 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
countries when it comes to municipal solid waste (MSW) diversion and disposal.
Extended Producer Responsibility
A waste management approach that has developed in response to these issues is the concept of
the producers of products being responsible for their end-of-life management. Similarly to the
OECD, CCME defines Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as:
an environmental policy approach in which a producer’s responsibility for a product is extended
to the post-consumer stage of its life cycle.
Through the Canada-wide Action Plan (CAP) for EPR, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the
Environment (CCME) and its member jurisdictions commit to working towards the development
and implementation of EPR programs, have provided guidance on how to strengthen the use of
EPR as an environmental risk-management tool and have prepared a plan to promote the
harmonization and consistency of programs across the country.
Objectives
The Canada-wide Action Plan for EPR would seek the adoption by producers of full life-cycle
cost accounting for their products. This would see the costs of the end-of-life management of
products treated similarly to other factors of production and incorporated into wholesale and
retail product prices. Successful EPR shifts the expenses associated with product end-of-life
management from taxpayers to producers and consumers and reduces the amount of waste
generated and going to disposal. In addition the Action Plan seeks to reduce the toxicity and
environmental risks from products and product waste and to improve the overall life-cycle
performance of products, including reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions
Approved in principle by CCME Council of Ministers October 29, 2009
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