Overview

The Government of Canada is taking aggressive measures to reduce plastic pollution and assist Canadians in transitioning to a circular economy through an evidence-based and comprehensive plan that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics and keeps plastic in the economy and out of the environment. These actions are part of Canada’s plan to work towards the goal of zero plastic waste by 2030.

As part of this proposal, a Federal Plastics Registry will be established, requiring businesses (such as resin producers, service providers, and makers of plastic products) to submit an annual report detailing the quantity and kinds of plastic they import, manufacture, and sell. The amount of plastic that is collected for diversion, reuse, repair, remanufacture, refurbishment, recycling, processing into chemicals, composting, incineration, and landfilling will also need to be reported by manufacturers of plastic items and service providers. It will be required to report how much packaging and other plastic trash are produced on industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) properties.

The Federal Plastics Registry establishes a transparent process for gathering vital data that will guide and assist in the execution of Canada’s comprehensive, evidence-based plan and aid in tracking advancements made in the fight against plastic pollution and environmental protection over time.

These goals are in line with the Guidelines for Consistent Extended Producer Responsibility Policies and Programs for Plastics (PDF) published by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). Phase 1 of the Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste included a commitment to develop these guidelines.

Consulting on the development of a federal plastics registry

We announced in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 30, 2023, our intention to issue a section 46 notice to the Federal Plastics Registry, requesting them to compile an inventory of data. A draft of the section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry was made available in the Notice of Intent in order to solicit input on the Registry’s reporting requirements. After the Notice of Intent was published, there was a 45-day window for public comments. The deadline for public comments was February 13, 2024.

We released the Federal Plastics register Technical paper on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA) register on April 18, 2023. The Federal Plastics Registry’s technical specifications and reporting criteria were described in the study. The release of the Technical paper was followed by a 30-day window for public comments. The deadline for public comments was May 18, 2023.

We released the Consultation paper: a proposed federal plastics register for plastic product makers (PDF) to the CEPA registry on July 25, 2022. The article updated interested parties on the creation of a CEPA instrument that would force producers to report on plastics in the Canadian economy and requested early input from them.

After the consultation document was published, there was a 70-day window for public comments. Additionally, three technical seminars on reporting and product categories as well as two overview webinars were held by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The deadline for public comments was October 7, 2022. We released a What We Heard report in February 2023 that included a summary of the input we received on the discussion paper through webinars, stakeholder discussion sessions, and written comments.

The Federal Plastics Registry’s section 46 notification took into account suggestions made during these discussions. 

Section 46 notice for the Federal Plastics Registry

We sent out a section 46 notice in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on April 20, 2024, asking the Federal Plastics Registry to compile an inventory of data. The Registry aims to keep plastics out of the environment and in the economy by gathering data to support initiatives to stop plastic pollution. The section 46 notice mandates that businesses including those that make resin, offer services, and make plastic products give information regarding the lifetime of plastics in Canada to the Minister of the Environment. We hope to gather data on a significant portion of the economy through the Notice and give Canadians useful, standardized information on plastic from production to end-of-life across the nation, which will help guide and assess efforts to reduce plastic pollution. 

Reporting timelines

The Federal Plastics Registry will gradually implement reporting requirements so that individuals who are required to report can fulfil the obligations. Phase 1 of the Federal Plastics Registry reporting program, which requires reporting on plastic placed on the market in three categories for the 2024 calendar year, would begin in September 2025. For the three categories that reported in Phase 1, Phase 2 will add reporting requirements for resin importers and manufacturers in 2026. Additionally, reporting on plastic placed on the market will be required for the remaining categories.

In Phase 2, reporting on plastic waste produced at ICI facilities as well as reporting on plastic that is collected and delivered for disposal or diversion for specific categories will also be implemented.

Phase 3 will add more information on plastics collected and sent for disposal and diversion for more categories in 2027. We will address Phase 4 reporting requirements in an upcoming information collection notice. The table below provides an overview of the reporting phases in a more simple format.

Phased implementation approach

Next steps

To assist businesses that must submit reports to the Registry, a guide paper is now in the draughting stage. On September 29, 2025, the Federal Plastics Registry’s IT system will get its first phase of reporting. In the latter part of 2024, users will be able to access the Federal Plastics Registry’s IT system