Whereas the BC Recycling Regulation does not include Industrial, Commercial and Institutional ICI recycling in requirements for Extended Producer Responsibility programs, and therefore recyclables from these sectors are not accepted in the Recycle BC system or other stewardship programs; And whereas packaging and paper products utilized in the ICI sectors form a significant proportion of recyclable materials in our communities, and continue to result in significant collection and recycling costs borne by local governments, and recyclable materials potentially being destined for landfills: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM petition the Province of British Columbia to amend the Recycling Regulation to require inclusion of the ICI sectors in an Extended Producer Responsibility program focused on ICI paper and packing.
Ministry of Environment and Parks The ICI sector includes a diversity of packaging types and sources, compared to residential waste streams. ICI sector packaging includes both business-to-consumer and business-to-business packaging, as well as many specialized packaging types for different businesses and institutions, including food and beverage, retail, agricultural, construction, education, and medical. This complex variety of packaging types and sources requires a multi-pronged approach for effective waste prevention, diversion, and recycling. Amending the Recycling Regulation to require inclusion of the ICI sector in an EPR program focused on all ICI paper and packaging is not feasible, given the complexity and broad range of the sector. The Ministry of Environment and Parks continues to assess opportunities to advance BCs circular economy and increase the recovery of packaging and paper products. The Recycling Regulation currently includes requirements for some EPR programs to accept packaging materials from any source, including the ICI sector. All beverage containers under Schedule 1 Beverage Containers are accepted, including those from the ICI sector. The Beverage container product category was recently expanded to include milk and milk substitute containers. Schedule 2 Residual Product Categories also requires containers from all sources, and this list of products is expanding under the most recent amendments that were made in October 2025. New products, including the regulation of automotive fluids, aerosols and compressed canisters, will include these packaging types from all sectors.