Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is transitioning its Beverage Container Program to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model effective April 1, 2026. The province’s newly revised Environmental Protection Act Materials Stewardship and Recycling Regulations, which govern all PEI EPR programs, outline how EPR rules will apply to beverage containers (see Division 9, page 48).
Encorp Atlantic/Encorp Atlantique (“Encorp”) has been working with the PEI Department of Environment, Energy, and Climate Action, as well as other stakeholders, to prepare for this transition. Following its successful leadership of New Brunswick’s (NB) shift to EPR in 2024, Encorp has been chosen as the producer responsibility organization (PRO) for PEI and has submitted a Stewardship Plan for the new EPR Program. Encorp is pleased to announce that its Stewardship Plan has recently been approved by the PEI government. Encorp will serve as the designated agent for beverage producers to fulfill certain of their obligations under the Regulations and will work closely with both producers and retailers to build awareness of their responsibilities under the new EPR program.
We encourage all beverage industry members to follow Encorp’s communications over the coming months closely. Notices, webinar invitations, information kits, and all documents required to enter into an agreement with Encorp to serve as your PRO for the new EPR Program in PEI will be posted to this web page as they become available.
Latest News
- October 31, 2025: PEI Transition to EPR for Beverage Containers — Deposit/Refund Structure, CRF Rates & Other Key Updates
- August 28, 2025: Upcoming Transition to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Beverage Containers in Prince Edward Island
FAQ
(Last updated: October 31, 2025)
What is changing in Prince Edward Island (PEI)?
PEI is transitioning its Beverage Container Program to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, effective April 1, 2026. Under this system, beverage producers will be responsible for funding and managing the collection and recycling of their post-consumer beverage containers.
Why is Encorp involved?
Encorp was established in 2023 to support producers in meeting EPR obligations in New Brunswick (NB). Encorp successfully led NB’s transition to EPR for beverage containers on April 1, 2024, and is now working with the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action and other stakeholders to do the same in PEI.
Does Encorp have an approved Stewardship Plan?
Yes. Encorp submitted its Stewardship Plan for PEI in September 2025 to the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. The plan was recently approved and outlines how Encorp will manage collection, recycling, awareness/education, and reporting for beverage containers under the new EPR program. It is currently in translation and will be shared with all stakeholders and posted on Encorp’s website in November.
Do I need an agreement with Encorp for PEI?
Beverage producers will be able to appoint Encorp as their agent/producer responsibility organization (PRO) by signing an official agreement that assigns Encorp the responsibility for fulfilling certain EPR obligations on their behalf. Registrations with Encorp will open in January 2026, and a complete information package, including guidelines and consumer education materials for retailers, will be available to producers at that time.
When does the new EPR program start?
The new EPR program will launch on April 1, 2026, as confirmed in PEI’s recently revised Environmental Protection Act Materials Stewardship and Recycling Regulations.
What will program fees look like?
The program will transition to a full deposit-refund structure, as stated in PEI’s Environmental Protection Act Materials Stewardship and Recycling Regulations. In addition, a container recycling fee (CRF) will be introduced by material type and charged by Encorp to producers to cover the net costs of collection, transportation, and processing of post-consumer beverage containers. As of October 28, 2025, Encorp has confirmed the deposit-refund structure and CRF rates for PEI, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. For complete details, please visit Encorp’s website.
Which beverage products will be subject to deposits and CRFs?
Containers for products that meet the definition of “beverage” under PEI’s Environmental Protection Act Materials Stewardship and Recycling Regulations will be subject to a deposit and CRF. The Regulations define a beverage as: “a ready-to-serve liquid that is intended for human consumption, but does not include milk, plant-based milk product alternatives that are fortified and a source of protein, unprocessed apple cider, concentrated drinks, infant formula, meal replacements, or formulated liquid diets.” This definition is identical to the one used in NB, for consistency and harmonization across Atlantic Provinces.
Which materials will be acceptable for deposit-bearing beverage containers sold in PEI?
The same types of materials accepted by Encorp in NB will also be accepted by Encorp in PEI under the new EPR program. This will help ensure harmonization across Atlantic Provinces and simplify compliance for producers operating in multiple jurisdictions. The accepted materials for beverage containers will be as follows:
- Aluminum containers.
- PET containers marked with the #1 PET (or PETE) resin code.
- HDPE translucent containers marked with the #2 HDPE resin code.
- Non-refillable glass (clear, green, or brown) bottles not intended for reuse.
- Refillable glass (industry-standard brown beer bottles and proprietary refillable bottles) intended to be washed, sterilized, and reused.
- Cartons & polycoat containers (aseptic & gable-top) and boxed wine cartons (bag-in-box).
- Steel beverage containers.
- Other plastics & pouches—opaque HDPE (#2), polypropylene (#5), polystyrene (#6), other plastics (#7), and LDPE (#4) pouches.
What are the next steps?
- In November 2025, Encorp will share its Stewardship Plan, which was approved by the PEI Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.
- Webinars will be held on November 20, 2025, and February 26, 2026, both at 1:00 p.m. Atlantic Time.
- Producers will receive instructions regarding registration/signing agreements and program fee reporting/remittance procedures with Encorp in January 2026.
- Consumer education and outreach will begin in April 2026, with major advertising campaigns scheduled for early summer and again in the fall.
Where can I get more information?
Encorp will continue to provide regular updates as we near the April 1, 2026, start date of the new EPR Program. In the meantime, you may contact us at 1-877-389-7320 or [email protected]. For the latest updates, visit the dedicated PEI EPR Program webpage on Encorp’s website via the Beverage Industry menu at encorpatl.ca.
➡️ESSENTIAL LINKS
Informational Webinars
(Invitations and Meeting Links Coming Soon)
- November 20, 1:00 p.m. AST
This session will provide an overview of the confirmed details of PEI’s new EPR Program, as outlined in Encorp’s approved Stewardship Plan.
- February 26, 2026, 1:00 p.m. AST
A second webinar will be held in February 2026, following the official opening of registrations.
Assigning Encorp as Your PRO in PEI for Managing Your Deposit-Bearing Beverage Containers
Coming Soon – January 2026
- Registration with Encorp
- Information kit for producers
- Retail toolkit/consumer education