Plastic pollution litters our beaches, parks, streets, shorelines, and other places Canadians value. Its harmful impacts on nature and wildlife must be addressed. That is why the Government of Canada is taking action to reduce plastic pollution and move toward a circular economy addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics, keeping it in the economy and out of the environment.
On December 30, 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, launched a consultation on the creation of the Federal Plastics Registry, which will be used as a tool to monitor and track plastic from the time it is produced to its end of life. This is another step to deliver on Canada's comprehensive plan to reduce plastic pollution and waste.
The Registry would require producers to report annually on the quantity and types of plastic they place on the Canadian market, how that plastic moves through the economy, and how it is managed at end of life. The Registry would collect information to help monitor plastic in the economy over time. The Government would use this information to measure progress toward zero plastic waste and inform actions to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
The Registry would:
- complement existing reporting requirements such as those under provincial and territorial extended producer responsibility programs,
- harmonize plastics data across the country, and
- make this information openly accessible to all Canadians and businesses through a new and modern reporting platform.
This consultation is open to Canadians and all interested parties until February 13, 2024.
The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with its partners to advance its comprehensive zero plastic waste agenda at home and abroad. This includes continued work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) to implement the Canada-wide Strategy on Zero Plastic Waste and Action Plan. The Registry would support the Action Plan commitment to develop and maintain national plastics economy data.
The Government of Canada will continue to consult with Canadians as it takes important actions to keep the environment free from plastic pollution.
