Government is seeking feedback on developing a federal plastics registry to help tackle plastic pollution

On December 30, 2023, Environment and Climate Change Canada launched a consultation on the creation of a Federal Plastics Registry, a new tool to monitor and track plastic from the time it is produced to its end of life. The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, chart how that plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life.

The Government would use this information to measure progress toward zero plastic waste and inform actions to speed up transition to a circular economy.

According to the Government, the Registry would:

• complement existing reporting requirements under provincial and territorial extended producer responsibility programs;
• harmonize plastics data across the country; and
• make this information openly accessible to all Canadians through a reporting platform.

Full details of the proposed Registry and associated consultations were published in the Canada Gazette on December 30, 2023. Comment deadline: February 14, 2024.

https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2023/2023-12-30/html/notice-avis-eng.html#na3

While not directly relevant to the water and wastewater sector, the degradation of plastics is contributing to microplastics in water sources and wastewater streams, so any effort to move towards better plastic waste management and recycling is a positive.

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association