The Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023 govern the distribution of packaging and paper to Saskatchewan households by businesses. These regulations are intended to ensure a successful, efficient and sustainable program to handle the recycling of packaging and paper.
Recent amendments to the regulations will require a change to how the collection and recycling of household packaging and paper are managed. Producers are required to develop a plan, which will be submitted for approval by September 27, 2023.
For now, the changes will not impact household recycling programs. The existing Multi-Material Recycling Program will continue to be in effect until a new province-wide program for packaging and paper begins its phased-in implementation.
New regulatory requirements
The review and engagement process on regulations that govern the end-of-life management of household packaging and paper products supplied to Saskatchewan households by businesses is complete. The Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023 came into effect on March 31, 2023. The new regulations promote a strategic approach to responsible waste management by reducing waste in our landfills and environment, and contributing to the health and safety of Saskatchewan and its people.
Key regulatory changes include shifting to a program fully funded and operated by producers, changing business exemptions and adding packaging-like products to the list of designated materials. Other proposed changes include:
- improving compliance enforcement;
- clarifying the definition of a producer;
- requiring performance targets;
- removing requirements for voluntary producers;
- requiring a five-year program review; and
- phasing in the program over multiple years.
Thank you to everyone who provided their input during this process.
Read The Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023
Read The Product Stewardship Program Guidelines
Next steps
If your business supplies or distributes packaging, paper or packaging-like products to Saskatchewan households, your business may be obligated to operate a product stewardship program for the collection and recycling of these materials or enter into an agreement with a producer responsibility organization to operate a program on your behalf. Typically, in stewardship programs, the producer responsibility organization consults with stakeholders and develops a program plan that meets regulatory requirements. The program plan is then submitted for approval.
The program plan for the packaging and paper regulations is due to the Ministry of Environment on or before September 27, 2023. After the plan has been approved by the ministry, the producer responsibility organization will begin its phased-in implementation of the product stewardship program.