AUMA supports EPR motion
On October 26, 2020, Searle Turton, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Spruce Grove – Stony Plain, spoke on his Private Members’ Motion urging the provincial government to examine the feasibility of implementing measures such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that balance the environmental and economic needs of Albertans. Many MLAs from all parties supported the motion and it was passed unanimously by the Alberta Legislature.
AUMA appreciates that many MLAs supported the motion, and we thank them for listening to municipalities’ priorities. Alberta municipalities have long advocated for a made-in-Alberta EPR program for packaging and paper products. The Alberta EPR Collaborative Study, research developed with AUMA, Calgary, Edmonton and Canada Stewardship Services Alliance, highlighted several benefits expected from an EPR program. Some examples of benefits include:
- reducing the recycling collection services costs that municipalities charge their residents each year by up to $105 million;
- adding $16 million to the Alberta economy every year;
- gaining approximately 220 new jobs in Alberta’s recycling industry; and
- recycling an additional 21,000 tonnes of packaging and paper products each year.
Any financial savings are Albertans’ money, which can be reinvested in other municipal services or provided as cost savings to municipal residents. Alberta municipalities are committed to sharing the financial benefits. A recent resolution endorsed by 90 per cent of Alberta municipalities support passing any, and all savings gained directly back to ratepaying Albertans when the Government of Alberta adopts EPR paper and packaging legislation.
We encourage members to share with your MLA your support for EPR. On the AUMA Waste Management Hub, we provide some key messages under the How to Get Involved section that you can use to send in your letter of support.
