In April 2025, Circular Materials successfully launched Phase 1 of the province’s new EPR recycling program. Starting October 1, 2026, the organization is excited to expand and enhance Alberta’s recycling program through Phase 2 of the EPR program. This will include a new unified material list in Alberta that will help eliminate confusion and make it easier for residents to recycle no matter where they live. New materials include glass containers, foam packaging, flexible plastic packaging, aerosol containers, laminated paper and plastic packaging. Alberta’s EPR program will make recycling easier for residents, improve recovery rates and help advance a circular economy in Alberta.

WM will be opening a new facility in Edmonton in early 2027, featuring advanced mechanical and optical sorting technologies. The facility will expand the range of recyclable materials to increase material recovery and improve recycling quality. It will use integrated sorting systems that enable conveyors and optical sorters to communicate with each other and with technicians. This new facility will improve sorting accuracy, enhance material quality, and return materials back to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packing; significantly improving Edmonton’s recycling capacity and infrastructure.

“This marks an important step forward for recycling in Alberta,” said Allen Langdon, CEO, Circular Materials. “Investing in advanced infrastructure enables us to build a more efficient and reliable system, accelerate innovation and deliver better environmental results for residents, communities and producers across the province.”

“This represents another step as Alberta moves forward on Extended Producer Responsibility,” said the Honourable Grant Hunter, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “The partnership between Circular Materials and WM will help develop a streamlined recycling system supported by advanced sorting technology.”

“Seeing this type of historic investment in our recycling and waste management system is a strong indication of what the circular economy can bring to our province,” said Ed Gugenheimer, CEO of Alberta Recycling Management Authority. “Created in collaboration with industry stakeholders and government, it’s exciting to see the extended producer responsibility framework deliver results for our province.”

The new and enhanced facility will:

• More accurately identify packaging and paper products with the use of near-infrared and advanced optical sortation systems.
• Deliver stronger environmental outcomes and ensure that more materials are recycled and transformed into new packaging or products.
• Optimize transportation and logistics across the province.
• Strengthen supply-chain partnerships.

“This investment reflects our commitment to building a recycling system that better supports local communities,” said Tracy Black, President of WM Canada. “By leveraging advanced sorting technology and WM’s operational expertise, this facility is designed to improve material recovery, broaden the range of accepted recyclables over time, and help advance a circular economy.”

“Collaboration is essential to building a successful extended producer responsibility system,” added Blaire Gaalaas, Circular Materials’ Managing Director in Alberta. “Together with our partners, we are advancing a recycling system that improves recovery rates, promotes sustainability and makes recycling more effective and accessible for all Albertans.”

The facility will be owned and operated by WM. Funded by producers under the extended producer responsibility framework, this investment will benefit residents, communities, and the environment.

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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.

About WM – WM (WM.com) is North America’s leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. In North America, WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet, is the largest recycler and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas-to-electricity plants, as well as the largest heavy-duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry. WM Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste and secure information destruction services in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company’s sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.