Overview

Stewardship programs are important to Alberta's efforts to minimize, divert, and properly manage our waste and residual materials. Government-regulated recycling programs can help create and maintain sustainable recycling programs for post-consumer products which cost more to recycle than what the material may be worth at market, or to dispose of in landfills.

As part of achieving the goals outlined in the Too Good to Waste Strategy, we will continue to develop and implement stewardship programs for target materials. Together a strong, responsible, provincewide approach will help to protect and conserve our resources.

What Can I Recycle?

There are currently five regulated stewardship programs in Alberta:

  • Beverage containers
  • Electronics (computers, computer equipment and televisions)
  • Paint and paint containers
  • Tires
  • Used oil materials (used oil, oil filters and oil containers)

For more information on each program and what can be recycled see:

Delegated Administrative Organizations

Alberta’s five regulated stewardship programs are managed by delegated administrative organizations (DAO) that operate arms-length from government and are accountable to the Minister of Environment and Parks. The two recycling DAOs are the:

  • Alberta Recycling Management Authority
  • Beverage Container Management Board

Regulations give these organizations responsibility to manage particular programs. The recycling DAOs are required by regulation to submit annual reports and business plans yearly to the Minister. These reports are available on the organizations’ websites.

Alberta Recycling Management Authority

The Alberta Recycling Management Authority is delegated through the Designated Material Recycling and Management Regulation and manages the recycling programs for electronics, tires, paint and used oil.

Beverage Container Management Board

The Beverage Container Management Board is delegated through the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation and manages the beverage container recycling program.

Environmental Fees

Regulated Environmental Fees

Four of the five programs (electronics, paint and paint containers, tires, used oil materials) are funded by regulated environmental fees that are charged to producers on the sale of these materials into Alberta. The environmental fees are often passed on to consumers by producers. The government neither provides money to nor receives money from the programs. See the applicable regulations for specific environmental fees and what the fees can be used for.

Unregulated Environmental Fees

Some retailers may choose to charge environmental fees on products that are not covered by a regulated recycling program. For information on these fees, contact the retailer directly.