List of environmental codes of practice

This is a list of our environmental codes of practice for preserving the quality of the environment. 

Proposed codes of practice

There are currently no proposed codes of practice. 

Codes of practice in effect

Chemicals, plastics and rubber

Overview of the Code of Practice for the Environmentally Sound Management of Chemical Substances in the Chemicals, Rubber and Plastics Sectors

Objective: To identify and promote best practices in the management and handling of chemical substances in the manufacturing and distribution of chemicals, plastics, and rubber products, to prevent releases of these substances into the environment.

Pulp and paper

Overview of the pulp and paper code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to reduce air emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and total particulate matter (TPM) from facilities in the pulp and paper sector. The code of practice also recommends annual air SO₂ and TPM emission limits. 

Potash sector

Overview of the potash code of practice

Objective: The code of practice aims to identify and promote best practices intended to control and minimize fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) air emissions. Adoption of best practices will facilitate continual improvement in environmental performance for PM_2.5 in this sector.

Cutback and emulsified asphalt

Overview of the asphalt code of practice

Objective: The objective of the code of practice is to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the asphalt sector by at least 40 percent over a 6-year period from 2017 to 2023.

Results to date: We have published the second cutback and emulsified asphalt progress report, based on the 2019 activity data. A comparison with the results from the 2017 reporting year indicates that the liquefied asphalt sector in Canada is slowly making progress towards reducing VOC emissions from the use of liquefied asphalt. However, to achieve the code’s objective, there must be an increase in the use of lower emitting products, such as emulsified asphalt.

Lamps containing mercury

Overview of the lamps containing mercury code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to prevent and minimize the release of mercury to the environment from end-of-life lamps containing mercury.

Aluminium sector

Overview of the aluminium sector code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to control and reduce air emissions of fine particulate matter from facilities in the primary aluminium sector.

Iron, steel and ilmenite sector

Overview of the iron, steel and ilmenite sector code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to limit fugitive emissions of total particulate matter and volatile organic compounds from the iron, steel and ilmenite sector.

Fluorocarbon emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning systems

Overview of the fluorocarbon code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to reduce halocarbon emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Tetrabutyltin

Overview of the tetrabutyltin code of practice

Objective: The code of practice aims to minimize releases of tetrabutyltin to the aquatic environment by identifying best management procedures and practices for activities involving the import, distribution, manufacture and use of tetrabutyltin.

Results to date: For more details, see the tetrabutyltin progress report for more details about the performance of the code of practice.

Metal mines

Read the metal mines code of practice

Objective: The code of practice applies to the complete life cycle of mining, from exploration to mine closure, and environmental management practices are recommended to mitigate the identified environmental concerns. The recommended practices in the code of practice include the development and implementation of environmental management tools, the management of wastewater and mining wastes, and the prevention and control of environmental releases to air, water and land.

Base metals smelters and refineries

Overview of the base metal smelters and refineries code of practice

Objective: The code of practice aims to identify and promote recommended practices as requirements for new facilities and as goals for continual improvements for existing facilities.

Results to date: For information on the level of implementation of the 38 recommendations provided in the code of practice, see the progress report for the pollution prevention planning notice for base metals smelters and refineries and zinc plants. Further information on the implementation of the recommendations provided in the code of practice will be available on the performance agreement overview page. 

Road salts

Read the road salts code of practice

Objective: The code of practice is designed to help municipalities and other road authorities better manage their use of road salts in a way that reduces their impacts on the environment while maintaining road safety.

Dichloromethane emissions from paint strippers

Overview of the paint strippers code of practice

Objective: The code of practice aims to provide guidance for commercial paint stripping operations regarding activities that can serve to reduce emissions of dichloromethane into the environment. 

Integrated steel mills

Overview of the integrated steel mills code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to control and minimize the releases of certain toxic substances from integrated steel mills. It also recommends air emission limits and effluent quality guidelines.

Non-integrated steel mills

Overview of the non-integrated steel mills code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices to control and minimize the releases to air, soil and water of certain toxic substances from non-integrated steel mills. It also recommends air emission limits and effluent quality guidelines.

Halons in fire protection

Overview of the halons code of practice

Objective: The code of practice recommends best practices for the protection of the ozone layer through the reduction and eventual elimination of halon emissions to the atmosphere.

Related information

Additional codes of practice, developed in collaboration with the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment (CCME), or developed for preserving and improving public health, are available on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry.