Nova Scotia’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations shifts the financial and operational responsibility of packaging and paper recycling from municipalities to producers – those that produce and supply these materials to residents. This framework, known as extended producer responsibility or EPR, improves recycling rates and encourages the more efficient use of materials. The transition to EPR will launch December 1, 2025.

Historically, Nova Scotia’s packaging and paper recycling program was operated and funded by municipalities. Now, under the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations, Nova Scotia is transitioning to a new model where producers – the organizations that produce packaging and paper materials – are 100% responsible for operating and funding recycling the province’s program. This is a change that will not only benefit people, but also the planet. 

EPR is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms to improve recycling rates and advance a circular economy where materials are collected, recycled, and returned to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packaging. 

Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit organization that builds efficient and effective recycling systems where materials are collected, recycled and returned to producers to use as recycled content in new packaging and paper. As the producer responsibility organization (PRO) for packaging and paper in Nova Scotia, Circular Materials is responsible for operating the new recycling system. We are committed to increasing recycling rates across Nova Scotia and ensuring more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment. Learn more about Circular Materials at circularmaterials.ca/NS.   

Nova Scotia is moving to EPR as per the province’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, Paper Products and Packaging-Like Products Regulations. EPR is recognized as one of the most effective ways to improve recycling rates and advance a circular economy where materials are looped back into the recycling system to be used again and again.  

Under the Regulation, the financial and operational responsibility for recycling system will shift from municipalities to producers. To support a seamless transition for residents, Circular Materials has been working closely with municipalities and First Nations communities transitioning to EPR on December 1 of 2025 and are continuing to engage with municipalities and stakeholders in Nova Scotia.   

 Under the EPR program, residents will continue to receive similar curbside recycling services with changes intended to enhance their recycling daily routine. 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. 

Extended producer responsibility, or EPR, is a policy approach in which producers – the businesses that supply packaging and paper – are financially responsible and accountable for those materials over their full life cycle. Recycling programs founded on the principles of EPR improve recycling rates and support innovation, supply chain synergies, and encourage the efficient use of materials. EPR is recognized as one of the most effective ways to improve recycling rates and advance a circular economy where materials are looped back into the system and used again and again. 

Circular Materials is proud to be advancing the circular economy across Canada – where materials are collected, recycled and returned to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packaging. As an organization focused on building efficient and effective recycling systems across the country, we ensure more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment. To learn more about our operations in Nova Scotia, visit our website: circularmaterials.ca/NS. 

Residents can find information at circularmaterials.ca/NS.