Members will have various rights at Circular Materials’ Annual General Meeting, including, for example, voting rights on Director appointments, auditor appointments, and acceptance of financial statements and auditors report, plus the right to make proposals or request member meetings. Membership provides producers with a direct voice in the organization’s governance and long-term strategy.

Yes. Eligible members must designate Circular Materials as their PRO in every Canadian jurisdiction where they are obligated. This requirement protects commercially sensitive information, particularly in Ontario’s multi-PRO environment, and ensures confidentiality and fairness for all members.

No. There are no fees associated with becoming a member.

No. Membership is voluntary through the noted application and review process. Producers can continue to work with Circular Materials for compliance services even if they choose not to become members.  Producers will continue to have a voice and engage as they do today on EPR developments, fees, operations, and other regulatory requirements through Circular Materials Producer Working Group webinars.

Time commitments are minimal. Members are expected to attend the Annual General Meeting and to review meeting materials in advance. Additional meetings may also occur only if required.

Yes, the member is the Authorized Voting Representative and the individual formally appointed by the producer organization to act as its membership representative and to vote on its behalf. The selection of this representative is at the sole discretion of the producer organization. Producers are encouraged to review the benefits and responsibilities of membership to inform this decision. If a producer has a representative serving on the Circular Materials Board of Directors and is also applying for membership, the organization may choose to appoint the same individual for efficiency, but this is not mandatory and remains entirely at the producer’s discretion.

Yes. A producer organization may request a change to its Authorized Voting Representative at any time by contacting CMNational@circularmaterials.ca.

No. The Board of Directors is comprised of both Producer Directors, who represent producer organizations, and Independent Directors, who are not eligible for membership. A Producer Director may also be appointed by their organization as the Member and Authorized Voting Representative.

Voting tiers are based on each producer’s previous year’s supply data. This approach aligns voting influence with supply volumes, which strongly correlate with financial contribution.  Producers can request a confidential tier assessment upon approval of their application by contacting CMNational@circularmaterials.ca.

Yes. Tier placement can fluctuate year-to-year based on updated supply data submitted to Circular Materials in the jurisdictions where the producer is obligated. All Members will receive formal communication confirming their tier placement in advance of each Annual General Meeting, regardless of whether their tier has changed from the previous year.

Unsuccessful applicants will receive a letter outlining the reasons for the decision and will be invited to discuss directly with Circular Materials to better understand the eligibility requirements.