“New Brunswick is leading the way as the first Atlantic province to transition to extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, and we are proud to continue the important progress in the province,” said Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials. “This expansion reflects the power of collaboration—between producers, governments, First Nations, and communities—to build a strong circular economy that benefits all New Brunswickers.” 

Circular Materials is a producer-led not-for-profit organization that supports producers in advancing recycling and meeting EPR obligations in New Brunswick. Today, leaders from Circular Materials were joined by government officials in Oromocto to highlight how this expansion deepens service access, strengthens community inclusion and brings the province closer to a harmonized, province-wide approach to recycling. 

“This expansion of New Brunswick’s extended producer responsibility program reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable future for all communities,” said the Honourable Gilles LePage, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “By extending curbside recycling to more homes, schools, apartment buildings and First Nation communities, we are making it easier for New Brunswickers to recycle and contribute to a circular economy. I commend the leadership shown by Circular Materials, Recycle NB, and our Indigenous and municipal partners in making this vision a reality.” 

To date, 14 of New Brunswick’s 15 First Nation communities have either transitioned or are in the process of transitioning to the program. This includes Oromocto First Nation and St. Mary’s First Nation, both of which are joining the latest rollout. This reflects a strong commitment to equity, accessibility and meaningful partnership across all communities. 

“This expansion is an important step forward in ensuring that First Nation communities are included in province-wide environmental initiatives,” said Jim Ward, General Manager North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council. “Through our collaboration with Circular Materials, we’ve worked to make sure that access to recycling is available and responsive to the unique needs of our Mi’kmaq communities. We value this partnership as a step toward long-term environmental sustainability, community empowerment, and ensuring that Indigenous voices are reflected in the design and delivery of recycling systems across the province.”   

Recognizing the importance of recycling education among youth, Circular Materials is launching a comprehensive education program in collaboration with The Gaia Project, specifically designed for elementary schools across New Brunswick. This hands-on, curriculum-aligned initiative will be piloted in select schools and rolled out more broadly in the fall. The program, which will include a recycling education workshop and school toolkits comprised of digital and physical activities, aims to engage students and educators, increase recycling participation in schools, and track improvements in recycling behaviours and contamination reduction. 

 “Today marks an important milestone that represents the next step in building a truly inclusive, province-wide recycling system for all New Brunswickers,” said Timothy LeBlanc, CEO of Recycle NB. “We’re proud to support a model where producers take responsibility for the packaging and paper they put on the market, and communities gain better access to recycling services.” 

Some of the highlights of this expansion include:  

• As of May 1, over 20,000 new households across the province will have access to curbside recycling collection for the first time. This includes households in Grand Bay-Westfield (Ward 1), Hampton’s Ward 2, Oromocto, Oromocto First Nation, Grand Manan, White Head Island in the Southwest Rural District, and the Meductic region in Lakeland Ridges. 

• A total of 133 schools have joined the EPR program.   

• Approximately 10,000 multi-family dwellings units have joined the program as part of Phase 1 of the rollout, with residents now receiving direct recycling collection services through their building. 

• All 89 entities have now transitioned under the EPR framework. 

Looking ahead, New Brunswick’s EPR program will continue to expand, with the next phase of school and multi-family integration planned for November 1, 2025. Schools and multi-family dwellings can register to be included in phase 2 on the Circular Materials website before May 31, 2025. Additional registry and service cadences beyond phase 2 are to be announced. Additionally, the launch of recycling in public spaces is targeted for 2027. A new five-year Stewardship Plan will be submitted to Recycle NB by the end of June, as required under the amended Designated Materials Regulation. Ongoing collaboration with partners across the province remains key to ensuring a successful and inclusive transition. For more information on the EPR program or to access recycling guides by region, visit www.circularmaterials.ca/NB. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: media@circularmaterials.ca 

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.