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On October 1, 2026, Alberta will reach another important milestone in the evolution of recycling.
Phase II of Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for single-use products, packaging and paper products (PPP) will begin, bringing a standardized, province-wide approach to the materials Albertans can recycle, and expanding collection to eligible multi-family buildings.
Getting here has taken years of planning, collaboration and hard work.
When Alberta announced its move to EPR in 2022, we knew we were embarking on something significant. Building a Made-in-Alberta system from the ground up meant bringing together people and organizations with different roles, responsibilities and perspectives, finding ways to make the system work for all of them.
Since then, communities have registered, producers have stepped forward, Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) have built collection systems, processors and service providers have prepared for increased volumes, and municipalities, First Nations, Métis Settlement communities and other partners have helped shape how the system can work across Alberta.
Built on accountability, transparency and shared responsibility, Alberta’s EPR framework establishes the foundation for a modern recycling system designed to evolve over time. For ARMA, this milestone also represents the next step in more than 34 years of environmental stewardship leadership.
The successful implementation of EPR reflects the collaborative efforts of government, municipalities, Indigenous communities, PROs, producers, service providers and ARMA. Together, these partners have helped build a Made-in-Alberta system that is designed to be accountable, measurable and responsive to the needs of Albertans.
At ARMA, our role has been to bring these groups together, establish the framework for oversight, provide guidance and support, and help move Alberta from the concept of EPR to an operating system.
Phase I began in April 2025, marking the launch of Alberta’s producer-funded recycling system for both PPP and hazardous and special products (HSP). That first stage was about establishing the foundation, learning from implementation and identifying where the system could continue to improve. Phase II of PPP builds on that foundation, expanding and standardizing recycling services across the province.
For Albertans, this next step means more consistent access to recycling services and, for many households, a new opportunity to recycle at home. For multi-family residents in participating communities, it means access to PPP recycling collection where it was not previously available. And for Alberta, it represents another step toward keeping valuable materials in use and supporting a stronger circular economy.
The economic contribution of this system is already significant. In 2025, Alberta’s PPP program contributed more than $160 million to GDP, generated $75 million in wages, contributed $10.1 million in taxes and supported 1,230 full-time equivalent jobs.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
The real achievement is the network of people behind them.
I want to recognize and thank the Government of Alberta for its leadership in establishing EPR and for continuing to work with us as the system develops. I also want to thank the municipalities, Indigenous and Métis Settlement communities, producers, PROs, processors, collection sites, service providers, industry associations and other stakeholders who have contributed their time, expertise and perspectives along the way.
And, importantly, thank you to the Albertans who use these services every day. A recycling system only works when people participate.
October 1 is not the finish line. Like any system of this scale, EPR will continue to evolve. We will keep listening, measuring performance, identifying opportunities to improve, and working with our partners to make the system more effective and responsive to Albertans' needs.
After more than three decades of stewardship, ARMA is proud to be part of this next chapter in Alberta recycling.
There has been a tremendous amount of work behind this milestone, and it has taken all of us working together to get here. As we continue building on this foundation, we remain committed to working with our partners to strengthen Alberta’s recycling system and advance our shared vision of Inspiring a Future Without Waste®.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make it possible.
Ed Gugenheimer
CEO, Alberta Recycling Management Authority
