Federal government seeking feedback to develop a federal plastics registry to reduce pollution
by CM Staff
The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how that plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life.
GATINEAU — The Government of Canada is taking action to reduce plastic pollution and move toward a circular economy addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics, keeping it in the economy and out of the environment.
On December 30, 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, launched a consultation on the creation of the Federal Plastics Registry, which will be used as a tool to monitor and track plastic from the time it is produced to its end of life.
The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how that plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life. The Registry would collect information to help monitor plastic in the economy over time. The Government would use this information to measure progress toward zero plastic waste and inform actions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
The Registry would:
- complement existing reporting requirements such as those under provincial and territorial extended producer responsibility programs,
- harmonize plastics data across the country, and
- make this information openly accessible to all Canadians and businesses through a new and modern reporting platform.
This consultation is open to Canadians and all interested parties until February 13, 2024.
The Government of Canada says they will continue to work collaboratively with its partners to advance its comprehensive zero plastic waste agenda at home and abroad. This includes continued work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to implement the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste and Action Plan. The Registry would support the Action Plan commitment to develop and maintain national plastics economy data.
“Canadians are demanding action to tackle the plastic waste and pollution crisis, and the federal government will continue to act. The Federal Plastics Registry is an important tool that will help track and manage plastics across the economy. It will support provinces and territories in making producers responsible for their plastic waste at end of life and help move Canada toward a circular economy for plastics,” said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
