Staff recommend HRM participate in extended producer responsibility program

More stringent, harmonized extended producer responsibility (EPR) measures in Canada – that’s something Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said was needed four years ago.

An EPR program makes the producer of an item accountable for the end-of-life management of that item, therefore improving recycling efforts and supporting waste reduction goals.

In a letter to the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in November 2019, Savage said EPR programs are not in place in all provinces and “existing programs lack harmonization and consistency.”

And thanks to a recent program introduced by the provincial government, Nova Scotia has started to roll out its own EPR programs for batteries, lamps and small household electric appliances, as well as packaging, paper products and other blue bag materials.

The new set of EPR regulations means producers are responsible to pay for, collect and recycle packaging, paper products and materials in the residential blue bag recycling program.

Producers will also have to meet recycling targets that will encourage more eco-friendly packaging and reduce single-use plastics.

The program announced this past August is something city staff are recommending Halifax Regional Municipality participate in the program. Municipalities have to register to participate no later than Jan. 1, 2024.

In a report to be presented to the municipality’s environment and sustainability standing committee on Thursday, staff have also recommended the municipality work out an agreement related to the municipality’s curbside recycling collection and operation of its materials recovery facility with Divert Nova Scotia – the administrator of the regulations.

If given the go-ahead by the committee, followed by Halifax regional council, the municipality would look at revising – or withdrawing – its curbside collection for eligible residential buildings by December 2025.

That’s because as of Dec. 1, 2025, producers will be responsible for the provision of recycling collection services.

“This means producers will have the discretion to deliver collection services in a manner of their choice, subject to the EPR regulations,” reads the staff report.

“Given that the municipality currently provides curbside collection services for garbage, recycling and organics, it is possible producers will be interested in maintaining this arrangement with the municipality for at least some period of time.”

Staff said that based on what they’ve noted takes place in other provinces, they believe producers will “propose a per unit or per-serviced stop rate to municipalities for the continued provision of recycling collection services.”

But HRM won’t know more about what producers are planning to do until Oct. 1, 2024, when the producers’ readiness report, which outlines the proposed residential recycling program, is due.

Despite not knowing the specifics surrounding the program, staff said the risks of implementing the new EPR programs are low.

“This means producers will have the discretion to deliver collection services in a manner of their choice, subject to the EPR regulations.”

“Changes in residential service delivery (i.e., new service provider) could potentially result in lower resident satisfaction should collection of recyclables not align with municipal garbage or organics collection schedules or if there are different standards for rejections for mis-sorted material (as examples),” the report reads.

“The municipality would make reasonable efforts to ensure program delivery (i.e., collection days and communication) align between recycling, garbage and organics collection.”

It is also noted that some small businesses in rural areas of the municipality may no longer qualify for residential recycling collection as the EPR program does not provide collection to commercial or business properties, so the municipality may cover a per unit cost of collection or create a separate collection program for affected properties.

Staff said on a positive note, the EPR programs will provide cost savings to the municipality starting in 2025/2026.

The committee is set to discuss the municipality’s decision on the province’s new EPR programs on Thursday afternoon.