Packaging & Paper Program

OVERVIEW | REGISTRATION | PRODUCTS | PLAN

Packaging & Paper Products Program Overview

The Government of New Brunswick established an Extended Producer Responsibility program for packaging and paper products in 2021. Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act sets out the requirements for the program.

As the agency responsible for designated materials in New Brunswick, Recycle NB oversees the packaging and paper program.

As per the Regulation, producers may designate a Producer Responsibility Organization to operate the program on their behalf. Producers chose Circular Materials to operate the packaging and paper program in New Brunswick.

Registration

According to Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act, obligated producers are required to register with Recycle NB.

To register, please click here.

Register

Products

Under Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 of the Clean Environment Act, obligated packaging and paper products are defined as follows:

Packaging

Any materials that are used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery or presentation of a product that are supplied to a consumer, any marketing materials and any packaging-like products. This does not include:

Other designated materials (packaging for paint, oil & glycol and beverage containers)
Packaging that is unsafe or unsanitary, or could become unsafe or unsanitary by virtue of its anticipated use and is not suitable for recycling.

Marketing materials are defined as materials, substances or objects that are, or are intended to be, attached to a commodity or product or its container for the purpose of marketing or communicating information about the commodity or product.

Packaging-like products

Containers or coverings that are sold as products, are used by a consumer for their own packaging needs and would be ordinarily disposed of after a single use or short-term use. This does not include:

Products designed for the containment of waste
Products that are unsafe or unsanitary or could become unsafe or unsanitary by virtue of their anticipated use and are not suitable for recycling.

Paper

Any paper that is supplied to a consumer that is printed, or intended to be printed, and includes telephone directories. It does not include:

Reference books
Literary books
Text books
Paper that is unsafe or unsanitary, or could become unsafe or unsanitary by virtue of its anticipated use and is not suitable for recycling

For more information or a complete list of accepted products, please contact Circular Materials.

Stewardship Plan

A stewardship plan shall apply to the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, processing, disposal or other handling of packaging and paper products that are sold, offered for sale or distributed within the Province. For more details, please see the approved stewardship plan, which expires on December 31, 2027.