A New Era for Saskatchewan’s Household Packaging and Paper Recycling Program

As of March 31, 2023, a significant shift in household packaging and paper stewardship has taken effect when the Province of Saskatchewan introduced the Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023. This initiates the transition to a full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model to manage residential packaging and paper.

Under these regulations, producers – such as retailers, manufacturers and restaurants supplying packaging and paper to households – will assume operational and financial responsibility for the entire lifecycle management of these materials, from collection to responsible recycling. Various entities, including local governments, private collection contractors, material recovery facilities, transporters, social enterprises and First Nations and Métis communities may partner with Multi-Material Stewardship Western (MMSW) to collect, process and recycle household packaging and paper.

A draft Program Plan incorporating feedback from consultations was prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Environment on September 26, 2023. As of the latest update, the Ministry is reviewing the proposed plan and MMSW and its members await further response.

To facilitate this transition, MMSW is engaging with various community partners to ensure a smooth implementation process. Recognizing the operational adjustments required for the shift to a producer-managed system, MMSW has established a dedicated working group for Phase 1 of the transition to coordinate the implementation of the program and will soon be establishing a working group for Phase 2 of the transition.

Consultation sessions held between June 13 and August 13, 2023, provided a platform for community partners to delve into the nuances of the draft Program Plan, seek clarifications, and offer constructive feedback. These engagements underscore the collaborative effort towards achieving effective packaging and paper stewardship in the province.

To learn more visit mmsk.ca/full-epr