Canada Recycling Contamination Analysis and Regulatory Enhancement Plan
Canada Recycling Contamination Analysis and Regulatory Enhancement Plan
Client
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Industry
Government & Environmental Policy Plastic Recycling & Sustainability
Our Role
Evaluating plastic contamination rates in the Canadian recycling system
The Challenge
Canada required a transformative approach to unify recycling regulations, calling for an in-depth understanding of plastic contamination, economic challenges, and regional variations in recycling capabilities.
ECCC aimed to introduce mandatory recycled content and recyclability labeling rules for plastic packaging and single-use plastics across Canada. The challenge was to gather accurate data on plastic contamination within the recycling stream, quantify the economic impact of managing non-recyclable plastics, and assess regional differences in recycling infrastructure. ECCC needed a comprehensive analysis to understand how contamination rates and recycling system capabilities varied across the country, all while ensuring these insights would support upcoming policy decisions on recycling regulations.
Recycling Stream Contamination Analysis: Gather accurate data on plastic contamination within recycling streams to identify patterns and problematic materials.
Economic Impact Assessment: Quantify the costs associated with managing non-recyclable plastics to inform policy decisions and resource allocation.
Regional Infrastructure Evaluation: Assess regional differences in recycling systems to understand varying capabilities and identify areas needing improvement.
Policy Support Insights: Provide comprehensive analysis to ensure findings effectively guide the development of mandatory recycled content and recyclability labeling rules.
"Our role was to provide data informed insights on critical regulatory changes, reducing plastic contamination and helping Canada advance toward a circular economy."
-Coco Freling, Consultant
Strategic Approach
Our data-driven strategy delivered actionable insights to help ECCC enhance recycling regulations and reduce plastic contamination across Canada.
To address ECCC’s needs, RRS employed a multi-phased research strategy, synthesizing public data with primary interviews from stakeholders across five Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. The project focused on collecting contamination data from Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and plastic reprocessors, investigating contamination rates across different plastic types and assessing the costs associated with managing non-recyclable materials. This data enabled RRS to develop key recommendations to improve recyclability, labeling practices, and regulatory frameworks.
Data Collection: Gathered contamination and recycling data from local PROs, MRFs, and reprocessors through surveys, public studies, and interviews across five provinces.
Analysis: Evaluated contamination by resin type, bale type, and regional differences, focusing on how contamination impacts recycling costs and system efficiency.
Program Design & Recommendations: Developed recommendations for labeling requirements and design guidelines to reduce contamination and improve material recovery rates in the Canadian recycling system.
RRS’s comprehensive study gave us the critical insights we needed to shape future regulations, helping move Canada towards its goal of reducing plastic waste and improving the efficiency of Canada’s recycling systems.
-Coco Freling, Consultant
Outcomes
Advancing Canada’s Recycling Future Through Data-Driven Action
RRS provided a detailed assessment of contamination within Canadian recycling systems, informing ECCC’s approach to future labeling and recycled content regulations. The study identified key contaminants and provided data-driven recommendations for reducing the economic and environmental costs associated with non-recyclable plastics. The findings emphasized the importance of enhancing sorting technologies and promoting clearer labeling to empower consumers and improve system efficiency.
Improved Regulatory Framework: Recommendations for new recyclability labeling rules that reflect real-world sorting and reprocessing capabilities.
Data Informed Insights: Analysis of contamination rates and costs associated with managing non-recyclable plastics, supporting future policy development.
Regional Customization: Insights into regional differences in recycling systems, allowing ECCC to tailor regulatory approaches based on local capabilities
5
Canadian Provinces Assessed
$0.45
Average cost per kg of handling and sorting
90%
Achievable yield from high-quality PE Clear Film Grade A bales
The Team
A Multidisciplinary Team from RRS Supported ECCC in Advancing Recycling Regulations and Reducing Plastic Contamination
The project was led by a multidisciplinary team of RRS experts specializing in plastic recycling, contamination analysis, and regulatory support. The team included project managers, data analysts, and outreach specialists who conducted interviews, analyzed recycling system performance, and provided actionable recommendations for improving Canada’s recycling landscape. Their collective efforts helped deliver a robust evaluation of plastic contamination and supported ECCC’s regulatory planning efforts.
