Alberta is entering a new era of recycling and waste management to keep more waste out of landfills. Starting April 1, Alberta’s new extended producer responsibility (EPR) will begin reducing waste, improving recycling programs and saving communities and taxpayers money. The provincewide shift to EPR includes programs, services and communities transforming throughout 2025 and 2026, which will ultimately keep thousands of kilograms of waste out of Alberta landfills.
“This new system will keep more waste out of landfills while saving communities and taxpayers money. And we’re doing it without creating more work or costs for Albertans or making them change their recycling habits.”
“By working with industry, municipalities and provincial partners, we’ve created a made-in-Alberta EPR solution that helps advance our priority of responsible waste management. We’re grateful for the strong support of the Government of Alberta as we work together to grow our province’s circular economy through EPR.”
“The province made a wise decision with EPR. It is a big win for the economy, the environment, and a splendid example of how we achieve great things when municipalities and the province work together. Calgarians will see the benefits immediately in their blue cart fees, but all over Alberta people will get clearer recycling rules and less waste in their landfills. This is only the beginning of the good it will do.”
“Circular Materials is proud to celebrate this important milestone with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Recycling Management Authority, businesses, municipal and community partners, and Albertans across the province. Significant collaboration, dedication and efforts have brought us to today, marking the beginning of our collective work to increase recycling rates for residents and enhance recycling systems in Alberta. EPR will drive innovation, operational efficiencies and increase access to materials – benefiting people and the environment.”
Reducing waste and improving recycling
EPR shifts the financial burden of recycling single-use products away from municipalities and onto the companies that produce those packages and products. By making producers responsible, EPR encourages them to find new ways to reduce waste and design products that are more recyclable and reusable.
Alberta’s EPR programs include thousands of different single-use products, packaging and paper, along with hazardous and special products like batteries and pesticides. Starting April 1, most municipalities, including all major Alberta cities, will operate under the new EPR programs, representing more than 90 per cent of Alberta’s population.
Some municipalities need more time to transition and will join EPR in July, while a small number of communities will join in 2026 – some getting recycling service for the first time in their history.
Saving money
These new systems will centralize, standardize and streamline recycling among Alberta municipalities, which will help reduce costs in many cases.
While each community is unique, many communities have already indicated that taxpayers will save money. For example, Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge have all recently publicly indicated that recycling fees can likely be lowered thanks to the new system.
Alberta’s government and the Alberta Recycling Management Authority will continue working closely with producers and municipalities to help them implement the EPR programs.
Quick facts
- Albertans send 1,034 kilograms per person of waste to landfills annually – more than any other Canadian jurisdiction. The national average is 710 kilograms per year.
- EPR has two programs that focus on two main types of waste materials:
- Single-use products, packaging and printed paper.
- Hazardous and special products like batteries or flammable materials.
- As of March 17, 99 per cent of all curbside recycling contracts are in-place for the April 1 start date.
- All First Nations and Métis communities have also been contacted and most have registered to participate in the October 2026 intake date.
- The Alberta Recycling Management Authority, which has managed regulated recycling programs for used oil, paint, tires and electronics for more than 30 years, is overseeing the new EPR systems.