“It is remarkable to reflect on the achievements over the past two years to transition New Brunswick to a more efficient and effective recycling system while building a strong foundation for the future by advancing innovation and investing in modern infrastructure. We look forward to continuing work to with all stakeholders in New Brunswick to increase recycling participation rates, expand our collection program and drive innovative recycling solutions to increase material recovery rates,” said Allen Langdon, CEO, Circular Materials. 

Expanding Access and Participation

Over the past year, Circular Materials has made significant progress in expanding access to recycling under EPR, extending services to multi-family residences, schools, and communities that previously didn’t receive curbside collection. More than 25,000 households across the province now have curbside recycling for the first time, along with thousands of new participants from schools and multi-family buildings.

Since the initial rollout, over 15,000 multi-family dwelling units have joined the program, and 176 schools across New Brunswick are now participating. Registration is available any time through the online New Brunswick School Registry or the Multi-Family Dwelling Registry to begin receiving collection service and ensure opportunities for communities to take part in the province’s growing circular economy.

Advancing Material Auditing and Data Insights at Eco360

As we approach the first full year of operations, the establishment of the Audit Centre at Eco360’s recycling facility in Berry Mills is foundational to collecting data on the recycling system performance.

Investing in Modern Recycling Infrastructure

As recently announced, Circular Materials, in collaboration with REgroup, part of the Municipal Group of Companies, is building a new state-of-the-art pre-conditioning facility (PCF) in Nova Scotia to serve both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The new facility will feature advanced imaging systems to modernize post-collection processing, increase material recovery and improve the quality of recyclables managed under EPR. This investment reflects Circular Materials’ commitment to advancing innovation and efficiency while strengthening recycling infrastructure across Atlantic Canada.

“Our goal is to build a recycling system that meets provincial EPR regulations and is efficient and effective in delivering environmental results,” said Andrew Philopoulos, Managing Director, Atlantic Canada, Circular Materials. “Our close collaboration with partners and stakeholders is key to creating a continuously improving system that works for all New Brunswickers and delivers long-term value for both communities and the environment.”

Empowering The Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders

In addition to infrastructure investments, Circular Materials continues to focus on education and outreach and in partnership with The Gaia Project, the organization delivering a free, hands-on recycling education program that is aligned with the school curriculum in elementary schools across the province. The hands-on workshops and classroom toolkits are designed to educate students on recycling, reduce contamination, and develop lifelong sustainability habits.

“By working with schools, we can empower young people—the next generation of sustainability leaders—to develop strong recycling habits and support the shift to a circular economy,” said Langdon.

Looking Ahead

In 2026, Circular Materials will continue expanding access to recycling services across New Brunswick, including onboarding additional schools and multi-family dwellings into the EPR program.

These efforts will further strengthen accessibility, efficiency, and material recovery across the province as implementation continues under the new 2026–2030 Stewardship Plan.

Ongoing promotion, education, and performance monitoring will support continuous improvement and long-term success under the new plan.

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About Circular Materials – Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit producer responsibility organization (PRO) that supports producers in meeting their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations across Canada. Created by producers for producers, Circular Materials develops, implements and supports effective and efficient recycling programs to advance innovation, deliver improved environmental outcomes and drive value across the recycling supply chain. Our full-service offerings include collection, management, promotion and education, and reporting.

Together, we are advancing the circular economy where materials are collected, recycled and can be returned to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packaging. As we develop enhanced recycling systems across Canada, we work to ensure more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment. Learn more at circularmaterials.ca.

Learn more at: www.circularmaterials.ca/NB