Canadian grocers, food, beverage and consumer products manufacturers, and restaurants have launched a not-for-profit alliance to address new blue-box recycling rules.
Circular Materials, a new, national producer responsibility organization (PRO) plans to offer compliance services to companies obligated under extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations in Canada.
The 15 companies that founded Circular Materials are Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Empire Company, Kraft-Heinz Canada, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada, Lassonde Industries Inc., Loblaw Companies Limited, Maple Leaf Foods, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited, Metro Inc., The Minute Maid Company Canada Inc., Nestlé Canada, PepsiCo Canada, Procter & Gamble Inc., Restaurant Brands International (RBI), and The Clorox Company of Canada Inc.
Circular Materials was incorporated on July 6, 2021, following the release of Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation. In Ontario, this national organization will operate as Circular Materials Ontario and will provide a full suite of compliance services to producers.
To prepare for this transition, PROs must create rules for operating the blue box collection system and submit these rules to the regulator next year. According to the regulation, PROs representing 66 per cent of the supplied tonnage of blue box materials must agree to the rules before they can take effect.
Circular Materials Ontario will represent producers’ collective interests in establishing these rules, to ensure that the blue box collection system operates with fair cost allocation, an open and competitive procurement process, and strong producer-led governance.
As producers participating in recycling programs across the country, Circular Materials aims to support producers by meeting all the requirements of Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation. These services include:
- Strong representation for producers in the development of the blue box collection system and the rules for its operation.
- Effective and transparent producer governance with meaningful producer engagement.
- Secure data management for reporting supply and recycling performance to the regulator.
- Commitment to achieving management targets for all material categories (rigid plastic, flexible plastic, metal, glass, paper and beverage containers).
- Cost efficiency through competitive procurement of collection and processing services.
- A system of fair cost allocation among participating producers.
- Support for producers in meeting their recycled content commitments.
- Clear and compelling consumer promotion and education.
To learn more, visit www.CircularMaterials.ca.
