ARMA releases first EPR annual report on Alberta's producer-funded recycling programs
ARMA Releases First EPR Annual Report, Establishing Baseline for Future Progress
The Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) released its 2025 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Annual Report, covering the first transitional year of Alberta's EPR framework after Phase I of the Single-Use Products, Packaging and Paper Products (PPP) and Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) programs launched on April 1, 2025. At launch, 217 communities representing about 94% of Alberta's population received EPR-funded services, with more than 5,300 producers and suppliers participating. Regulatory material management targets take effect in 2027, with the first reporting against those targets beginning in 2028, and Phase II PPP launched on October 1, 2026, extending access to eligible multi-family residences.
Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) has released its 2025 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Annual Report, marking an important milestone in Alberta’s transition to a more coordinated, producer-funded recycling system.
The report outlines the implementation of Alberta’s EPR framework during its first transitional year, following the April 1, 2025, launch of Phase I of the Single-Use Products, Packaging and Paper Products (PPP) and Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) programs.
The transition maintained service continuity while establishing the partnerships and processes needed to support the system’s continued development. At launch, 217 communities, representing approximately 94% of Alberta’s population, were receiving EPR-funded services, with more than 5,300 producers and suppliers participating in ARMA-administered EPR.
The report also highlights the economic contributions of recycling in Alberta. In 2025, the PPP program contributed more than $160 million to GDP, generated $75 million in wages, contributed $10.1 million in taxes, and supported 1,230 full-time-equivalent jobs.
As the first province-wide baseline for measuring EPR system performance, the report provides a foundation for evaluating future progress. Regulatory material management targets take effect in 2027, with the first reporting against those targets beginning in 2028.
“Alberta’s transition to Extended Producer Responsibility represents an important step forward in modernizing recycling across the province, said Ed Gugenheimer, CEO of ARMA. “Our first annual report demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration, providing a strong foundation for greater access, accountability, and improved system performance over time.”
The launch of Phase II PPP on October 1, 2026, represented the next step in expanding and standardizing recycling services across Alberta, including access for eligible multi-family residences. These changes are expected to increase system coverage to 97% of Alberta’s population.
ARMA will continue working with the Government of Alberta, communities, Indigenous partners, and industry to strengthen oversight, improve reporting, and advance a more accessible, accountable, and effective recycling system.
The full 2025 Extended Producer Responsibility Annual Report is available here.
Source: ARMA · Alberta Recycling What's New · albertarecycling.ca