Plastics Placed on Market

The Canadian Government announced the launch of a new Federal Plastics Registry requiring plastic producers to report on the quantity and type of plastic they place on the Canadian market, and tracking plastic across its lifecycle in the economy, from production through end of life.

According to the government’s statement announcing the launch, the new registry supports Canada’s zero plastic waste agenda, which includes a commitment to maintain country-wide data on how plastic moves through the economy. The government added that the registry aims companies across the plastics value chain to help monitor and track plastic from the time it is produced up to its end of life, with Canadians currently throwing away 4.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 9% recycled.

Reporting under the new registry will be phased in, starting in September 2025 with the quantities of plastic manufactured, imported and placed on the market in packaging, electronic and electrical equipment, and single-use or disposable plastic products. Reporting requirements for resin manufacturers and importers, as well as for other plastic categories will be added in 2026, alongside reporting on plastic waste generated at industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities. Reporting on plastic collected at end-of-life and plastic sent for diversion and disposal will begin in 2026 for some categories and 2027 for others.

The statement added that small producers that place less than one tonne of plastic on the market will be exempt from the reporting requirements.

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change said: