Federal Plastics Registry  

Overview

As part of Canada’s plan to move toward the goal of zero plastic waste by 2030, the Government of Canada is taking ambitious action to reduce plastic pollution and help Canadians move towards a circular economy through an evidence-based and comprehensive plan that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics and keeps plastic in the economy and out of the environment.

This plan includes establishing a Federal Plastics Registry that will require companies (including resin manufacturers, service providers and producers of plastic products) to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they manufacture, import, and place on the market. Producers of plastic products and service providers will also be required to report on the quantity of plastic collected for diversion, reused, repaired, remanufactured, refurbished, recycled, processed into chemicals, composted, incinerated, and landfilled.  Reporting on the amount of packaging and other plastic waste generated on industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) premises will be mandatory.

The Federal Plastics Registry sets a clear pathway to collect critical information that will inform and support the implementation of Canada’s evidence-based and comprehensive plan and help measure progress over time to prevent plastic pollution and protect the environment.

These objectives align with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Guidance to facilitate consistent extended producer responsibility policies and programs for plastics (PDF). The development of this guidance was a commitment under Phase 1 of the Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste (PDF).

Consulting on the development of a federal plastics registry

On December 30, 2023, we published a Notice of intent to issue a section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry to create an inventory of data in the Canada Gazette, Part I. The Notice of intent provided a draft of the section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry to gather feedback on the reporting requirements for the Registry. A 45-day public comment period followed the publication of the Notice of Intent. The public comment period closed on February 13, 2024.

On April 18, 2023, we published the Technical paper: Federal Plastics Registry on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA) registry. The paper outlined technical details and reporting requirements being considered for the Federal Plastics Registry. A 30-day public comment period followed the publication of the Technical paper. The public comment period closed on May 18, 2023.

On July 25, 2022 we published the Consultation paper: a proposed federal plastics registry for producers of plastic products (PDF) on the CEPA registry. The publication informed, and sought early feedback from, interested parties on the development of an instrument under CEPA that would require producers to report on plastics in the Canadian economy.

A 70-day public comment period followed the publication of the consultation document. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) also hosted 2 overview webinars and 3 technical sessions focused on reporting and product categories. The public comment period closed on October 7, 2022. In February 2023, we published a What we heard report which summarized the feedback received on the discussion paper from written comments, stakeholder discussion sessions and webinars.

Feedback received during these consultations was considered in the development of the section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry.

Section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry

On April 20, 2024, we published a section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry to create an inventory of data in the Canada Gazette, Part I. The goal of the Registry is to collect information to support actions to prevent plastic pollution, helping to keep plastics in the economy and out of the environment. The section 46 notice requires companies (including resin manufacturers, service providers and producers of plastic products) to provide the Minister of the Environment with information about the lifecycle of plastics in Canada. Through the Notice we are looking to collect information on a large sector of the economy and provide Canadians with meaningful and standardized data on plastic from production to end-of-life across, the country, that can inform and measure actions to prevent plastic pollution.

Reporting timelines

Reporting requirements for the Federal Plastics Registry will be introduced in phases to allow time for those obligated to report to meet the requirements. Reporting to the Federal Plastics Registry would start in September of 2025 with Phase 1, requiring reporting on plastic placed on the market in three categories for the 2024 calendar year. In 2026, Phase 2 adds reporting requirements for resin manufacturers and importers, for the three categories that reported during Phase 1, as well as reporting on plastic placed on the market for remaining categories.

Phase 2 will also see the introduction of reporting on plastic waste generated at ICI facilities and the introduction of reporting for plastic collected and sent for diversion and disposal for some categories.

In 2027, Phase 3 adds additional reporting on plastics collected and sent for diversion and disposal for more categories. Reporting requirements for Phase 4 will be covered in a future information gathering notice. A simplified version of the phases of reporting are outlined in the table below.

N/A – Not Applicable

Next steps

• A guidance document is being drafted for to aid companies that are required to the report to the Registry.
• Phase 1 of reporting to the Federal Plastics Registry’s IT system will begin September 29, 2025.
• Users will have access to the Federal Plastics Registry’s IT system in the second half of 2024. 

Related links

• Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 157, Number 52: GOVERNMENT NOTICES
• Technical paper: Federal Plastics Registry - Canada.ca
• Consultation paper: a proposed federal plastics registry for producers of plastic products
• Developing rules for recyclability and compostability labelling and a federal plastics registry – What we heard report

Contact us

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Plastics Regulatory Affairs Division
351 St. Joseph Blvd., Place Vincent Massey
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3
Email: FPR-RFP@ec.gc.ca