Halifax, Nova Scotia, December 1, 2025 – Circular Materials, a producer-led not-for-profit organization operating in Nova Scotia, is transitioning the province to extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper— an important milestone in modernizing Nova Scotia’s recycling system and delivering a more effective program that will improve recovery rates and environmental outcomes.  

“Today represents an exciting step forward for Nova Scotia,” said Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials. “The transition to EPR allows us to build a more consistent and modern recycling system—one that expands what residents can recycle, improves material recovery and keeps valuable materials circulating in the economy. We are proud to support this next chapter in Nova Scotia’s leadership in waste diversion.”

As of December 1, 2025, Circular Materials assumes responsibility for the residential recycling program across the province, including the collection of recyclable materials from multi-family dwellings, schools and campgrounds.

The program will maintain Nova Scotia’s familiar dual-stream blue bag system, keeping recycling easy and accessible for all residents, while introducing a province-wide uniform material list to ensure residents in every community can recycle the same materials consistently.

The updated list expands the types of materials accepted in the program to include hot and cold beverage cups, pet food bags, frozen juice containers and other paper packaging, as well as plastic packaging such as toothpaste tubes, hand cream tubes and deodorant. Circular Materials is also partnering with the Eastern Recyclers Association’s network of Enviro-Depots for the collection of foam packaging such as meat trays, flexible plastics such as candy wrappers and chip bags and aerosol containers such as cooking spray cans at participating drop-off locations. Residents can view the full material list at circularmaterials.ca/NS.

“This is an important milestone for our province,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “Beginning the transition to extended producer responsibility is one of the most effective ways to reduce what ends up in our landfills. This approach strengthens our circular economy by encouraging producers to design packaging and products that are easier to recycle, repair and reuse. We will continue working closely with municipalities, the recycling sector and Nova Scotians throughout this transition to ensure the program is effective, sustainable and supports a greener future for all.”

Circular Materials has been working closely with Divert NS, municipalities and Mi’kmaq partners—the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq and the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq—to prepare for this transition and ensure it is inclusive and seamless for communities across the province.

“This transition is the result of genuine collaboration across the province,” said Andrew Philopoulos, Managing Director, Atlantic Canada, Circular Materials. “We’ve engaged extensively with municipalities, First Nations and Divert NS to build a unified approach that strengthens recycling performance and supports communities through this important change.”

 “Nova Scotia’s move to EPR represents a new era for recycling in our province,” said Stacy Breau, CEO of Divert NS. “Through our collaboration with key partners across the waste management sector, we are supporting a smooth transition that will deliver improved outcomes for residents, municipalities and the environment.”

As part of broader system modernization, Circular Materials has recently advanced plans for a new state-of-the-art pre-conditioning recycling facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The facility, owned and operated by REgroup, part of the Municipal Group of Companies, will serve both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and is expected to be operational in early 2027.

Located near the Burnside Industrial Park (Halifax Regional Municipality), the facility will feature advanced sorting technologies, including near-infrared (NIR) optical sorters and advanced imaging systems designed to increase recovery rates and improve material quality. Funded by producers under the EPR framework, this investment will have an important role in enhancing recycling performance and delivering benefits to residents and communities across the region.

Key facts about Nova Scotia’s transition to EPR:

The program will operate under the Nova Scotia Readiness Report for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products.  

• 37 fully registered communities or representative organizations are participating in the program.
• 7 First Nations communities are participating in the program. Circular Materials continues engagement with the remaining Mi’kmaq communities to support their participation in the program.
• 40+ Enviro-Depot drop-off locations collect foam packaging, flexible plastics and aerosols.
• 25,000+ multi-family units, 125 schools and 33 campgrounds are registered to begin receiving service under Circular Materials. Additional multi-family buildings, schools, and campgrounds will come online on May 1, 2026.
• The establishment of an audit centre will evaluate system performance to guide promotion and education efforts and continuous program improvements.
• View the uniform material list at circularmaterials.ca/NS.

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 operates recycling systems that advance innovation, improve environmental outcomes, and drive value across the recycling supply chain.

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. Learn more at circularmaterials.ca.