It is EPR not ERP! EPR for Elected Officials – Brown Bag Series

Event Summary

Have you heard the term Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) at the Spring Municipal Leaders Caucus and last year's annual convention?

Alberta Municipalities and Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) are hosting an EPR 101 explaining the concept to municipal elected officials. The session is designed for busy elected officials who want to develop their EPR knowledge, ask questions, and learn how EPR programs will change how local governments provide recycling and waste management. We will cover:

• Alberta Municipalities' EPR advocacy to date
• What is EPR?
• History of EPR
• EPR programs in Canada
• What does Alberta have? How do ARMA and BCMB fit?
• What are hazardous and special products, packaging and paper products, and single-use plastics?

The session will start with a 15 to 20-minute presentation, followed by Q&A with attendees. We welcome you to bring your EPR questions to us.

If you would like some homework, please visit Alberta Municipalities Waste Management Hub, RCA's EPR background, and Alberta Environment and Parks EPR Engagement. Please note that homework is optional.

Alberta Municipalities has advocated for EPR since local governments endorsed a resolution calling for the provincial government to establish an EPR framework and expand existing recycling programs in 2019. We have made progress! Between 2019 to 2021, Alberta Municipalities worked with our partners, including RCA, to examine the benefit of an EPR packaging and paper program and lobbied the Members of the Legislative Assembly on the benefits of EPR.

The provincial government plans to introduce EPR regulations in June 2022.