Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
On April 1, 2024, the New Brunswick Beverage Containers Program became an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, governed by the province’s Designated Materials Regulation (Clean Environment Act), and falling under the oversight of Recycle NB.
The previous version of the Regulation, dating back to 2008, established product stewardship recycling programs for various products (“designated materials”) in the Province. Beverage containers have been one of these “designated materials” since April 1, 2024.
The Regulation was updated to version 2024-37 in July 2024, bringing some minor updates to the EPR Beverage Containers Program, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The Regulation states that “no person shall sell, offer for sale or distribute a designated material referred to in [the Regulation] to another person in the Province unless the person holds or acts under the authority of a producer registration.” – NB Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37, section 14(2)
The Regulation requires producers to submit a stewardship plan to Recycle NB outlining how their designated materials are recovered and recycled. Producers can assign a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to handle this responsibility and operate a recycling program on their behalf.
Encorp Atlantic/Encorp Atlantique (“Encorp”) is a federally incorporated, not-for-profit PRO, which has managed NB’s EPR Beverage Containers Program since April 1, 2024. Producers can appoint Encorp to manage the recovery of their post-consumer deposit-bearing beverage containers and fulfill some of their EPR regulatory requirements related to beverage containers as designated materials in NB.
Encorp’s Stewardship Plan
As the official producer responsibility organization (PRO) managing the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Beverage Containers Program in New Brunswick since April 1, 2024, Encorp Atlantic has developed and submitted stewardship plans to Recycle NB, as required by legislation. Each plan outlined how we intended to meet our obligations under the EPR Program and ensure compliance with the applicable regulation.
Our newest Stewardship Plan, approved by Recycle NB, aligns with the Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 and will be in effect from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030.
To access previous Stewardship Plans from Encorp, please contact us.
Registering with Recycle NB
Recycle NB is the agency responsible for overseeing waste management programs for materials specified in the New Brunswick Designated Materials Regulation. All producers of designated materials must be registered with Recycle NB for each product stewardship recycling program they engage in. If your company has previously registered with Recycle NB for another program, you must also register specifically for beverage containers. You will receive a separate registration number from Recycle NB for each program you register for on their website. www.recyclenb.com