Destination… Canada

Federal Plastics Registry: first nationwide reporting initiative

Created by Notice of intent to issue a section 46 Notice for the Federal Plastics Registry (FPR) on 30 December 2023, this initiative is a major step in Canada’s action to reduce plastic pollution, with the first report due on 29 September 2025.

Scope and coverage

The FPR has the most comprehensive scope of any Canadian extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiative thus far, covering plastic resins, plastic packaging and eight categories of plastic-containing products (see table below).

Companies that correspond to the definition of producers, waste generators and service providers must report annually on the quantity and type of plastic placed on the market and/or collected and recycled, reused or disposed of.

This obligation encompasses all in-scope materials regardless of the waste stream: in other words, for the first time, plastics in residential, institutional, commercial and industrial waste streams must be reported.

Notably, while there are no material exemptions, a de minimis exemption applies for those companies that place less than 1000 kg of waste across Canada federally.

Reporting

The reporting obligations are phased in, with full implementation targeted by 2030.

Currently, only reporting requirements up to and including 2027 are published; further details will be provided before 2027.

The first reporting deadline is for producers on 29 September 2025, while the reporting obligations for waste generators and service providers go live in 2026.

The first producer report only needs to include plastics in packaging, single-use plastic products and electronic and electric equipment, which was manufactured, imported or placed on the market, and which are destined for the residential waste stream.

Categories and first go-live year

The Notice explicitly allows obligated producers and waste generators to authorise representatives to input reports on their behalf and act as their main contact, including producer responsibility organisations (PRO) for the province and scope where the PRO is active.

For more information on the obligations, registration, precise reporting requirements and appointing an Authorised Representative, please contact H2 Compliance.