The Government of Yukon has made progress on its efforts to improve waste management across the territory by approving a regulation that sets general rules for developing and implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the territory.
EPR shifts the costs of recycling from taxpayers to those producing and selling packaging, paper products, as well as hazardous and special products.
EPR will help stabilize recycling in the Yukon while helping ensure these hard-to-handle materials are managed responsibly and that recycling is treated as an essential service. It will also help provide financial sustainability for recycling, keep waste out of landfills, help with waste diversion, and contribute to a greener, healthier future by reducing waste and its related greenhouse gas emissions.
The new EPR regulation introduces two categories of priority material: packaging and paper products (such as common blue bin items) and hazardous and special products (such as paint, waste oil and antifreeze).
Implementation of EPR will happen over the next two years while program plans are developed and approved.
Since 2020, our government has been working towards adopting an Extended Producer Responsibility model in the territory. By implementing these regulations in early 2024, we are continuing our progress towards fulfilling the Our Clean Future commitment of establishing an Extended Producer Responsibility system by 2025. This is important as we continue to move the Yukon towards a more circular economy.
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Extended Producer Responsibility is a framework that supports the private sector to take over the collection and recovery of waste.
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The regulation establishes the framework for extended producer responsibility including:
- stewardship plan development and implementation requirements (e.g., contents, annual reports);
- determination of a steward and stewardship program requirements;
- collection and recovery responsibilities;
- record-keeping requirements;
- duties of producer responsibility organizations; and
- compliance and enforcement.
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The Government of Yukon committed to developing an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation by 2025 under Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy.
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Action I14 under Our Clean Future directs government to “design and implement a system for Extended Producer Responsibility by 2025 that will make producers responsible for managing materials through the lifecycle of a product.”
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In early 2022, the Government of Yukon consulted with most affected stakeholders to draft a legislative proposal for the Extended Producer Responsibility regulation.
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From November 1, 2022, to February 17, 2023, the government conducted full public and stakeholder engagement to collect feedback through stakeholder meetings, written submissions, and a public survey.
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In the Fall 2023 Legislature Sitting, Bill No. 28, Amendments to the Environment Act was passed, allowing the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Mara De La Rosa
Communications, Environment
867-456-5565
mara.delarosa@yukon.ca