Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is considered to be plastic that is discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the environment.

In an environmental context, plastics are often categorized by size, with macroplastics being larger than 5 millimetres (mm) and microplastics being less than or equal to 5 mm.

• Technical paper
• Regulatory framework
• Consultations
  • Rules to strengthen recycling and composting of plastics through accurate labelling
  • Federal plastics registry for producers of plastic products
• Regulations
  • Single-use plastics
• Proposed regulations
  • Recycled content and labelling rules
  • Recycled content requirements for plastics
• Discussion paper on a proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution
• Adding substances to Schedule 1
• Science assessment of plastic pollution
• Timelines

Technical paper

In April 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada published the Technical paper: Federal Plastics Registry for a 30-day public comment period ending on May 18, 2023. The paper outlines the technical details and reporting requirements being considered for the Federal Plastics Registry. The document has taken into account the significant feedback received from partners, stakeholders and the public during consultations.

Regulatory framework

In April 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada published the Recycled content and labelling rules for plastics: Regulatory framework paper for a 30-day public comment period ending on May 18, 2023. The document outlines a regulatory framework for plastic packaging and certain single-use plastics that includes recycled content requirements and labelling rules for recyclability and compostability. It provides an updated and more detailed overview of the regulatory approach the Government is proposing for the draft regulations, which are currently under development.

Consultations

Rules to strengthen recycling and composting of plastics through accurate labelling

In July 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada published the Consultation paper: Towards Canada-wide rules to strengthen recycling and composting of plastics through accurate labelling that ended on October 7, 2022. The paper provided stakeholders with the opportunity to provide input on how the Government of Canada could introduce rules to improve the accuracy of recyclability and compostability labelling for plastics.

In February 2023, a what we heard report was published that summarizes the feedback received on the consultation paper.

Federal plastics registry for the producers of plastic products

In July 2022, the Government of Canada published the Consultation paper: a proposed federal plastics registry for the producers of plastic products for a consultation period, that ended on October 7, 2022. The paper provided stakeholders with the opportunity to provide input on how the Government of Canada could establish a federal plastics registry and require producers of plastic products to report on plastics in the Canadian economy. The federal plastics registry would harmonize data, make it openly accessible in one place, and support provinces and territories in making producers responsible for the waste created by the products they sell. This will improve the transparency of plastics recycling systems across Canada and support higher rates of value recovery.

In February 2023, a what we heard report was published that summarizes the feedback received on the consultation paper.

Regulations

Single-use plastics

In June 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada published the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 156, No. 13 – June 22, 2022. These regulations prohibit the manufacture, import, and sale of 6 categories of single-use plastics. These regulations also provide exemptions to accommodate people with disabilities.

To assist stakeholders with the new regulations, Environment and Climate Change Canada published 2 guidance documents:

• Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations – Guidance for selecting alternatives, developed to help businesses and other organizations make decisions on alternative products or systems that prevent pollution and help Canada transition to a circular economy
• Single-use Plastics Prohibitions Regulations - Technical guidelines developed to provide information about the requirements of the regulations

In December 2021, the proposed Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 155, No. 52 – December 25, 2021 for a 70-day public comment period. A draft of the Guidance for Selecting Alternatives to the Single-use Plastics in the Proposed Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations was also published for a 70-day comment period. Several notices of objection and requests for the establishment of a board of review were received following the publication of the proposed regulations. Responses to these notices have been published. A summary table of public comments received on the proposed regulations has also been published.

For more information on plastics, visit the Plastic waste and pollution reduction web page.

Proposed regulations

Recycled content and labelling rules

The Government proposes to publish regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to implement rules which drive circular economy goals and further Canada’s plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. The proposed regulations would have 3 key elements:

• recycled content requirements that mandate minimum levels of recycled post-consumer plastics in packaging
• recyclability labelling rules requiring accurate information be communicated to Canadians on whether packaging or SUPs are recyclable, and how to dispose of them properly
• compostability labelling rules prohibiting the terms "biodegradable" or "degradable" on plastic packaging and SUPs and limiting the use of the term "compostable" to plastics that meet certain standards and labelling requirements

Recycled content requirements for plastics

In February 2022, Environment and Climate Change Canada published a notice of intent on the development of proposed regulations that would set minimum recycled content requirements for certain plastic manufactured items in the Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 156, No. 7 – February 12, 2022 for a 30-day public comment period.

A technical issues paper, Recycled content for certain plastic manufactured items regulations, was also published for a 30-day public comment period.

Discussion paper on a proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution

In October 2020, Environment and Climate Change Canada published a discussion paper: A proposed integrated management approach to plastic products to prevent waste and pollution for a 60-day public comment period. In August 2021, a what we heard report was published that summarizes the feedback received on the discussion paper via written comments, webinars, and stakeholder discussion sessions.

Adding substances to Schedule 1

Plastic manufactured items have been added to Schedule 1.

• Final order adding plastic manufactured items: Canada Gazette, Part II: Vol. 155, No. 10 - May 12, 2021.

Several notices of objection and requests for the establishment of a board of review were received following the publication of the proposed order. Responses to these notices have been published. A summary table of public comments received on the proposed order has also been published.

Science assessment of plastic pollution

In February 2020, the Draft Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 154, No. 5 - February 1, 2020 for a 90-day public comment period.

In October 2020, the Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution was released and the related notice was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 154, No. 4 - October 10, 2020. A summary table of public comments received on the draft science assessment has also been published.

The science assessment provides a review of the available information on plastic pollution, including its sources, occurrence, and fate, as well as on the potential effects of plastics on the environment and human health. The science assessment is not intended to quantify the risks of plastic pollution on the environment or human health, but rather to survey the existing state of science in order to guide future scientific and regulatory (or other) activities.

Timelines