Update on EPR registration

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Update
We know that some of you have heard from your local municipalities, who are no doubt excited about the upcoming province-wide recycling program (EPR) that will see them offload their recycling costs onto the private sector.

As we stated previously, most AWNA newspapers are exempt from paying into this program.  What newspapers are not exempt from, is registering with ARMA (Alberta Recycling Management Authority), and keeping financial records, along with a record of how much newsprint is purchased during the year, in case of an audit.

Dennis was in touch this week with the registration and compliance folks at ARMA, who oversee the  province’s new EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) program.
 
They confirmed that if a producer’s total annual revenue coming into Alberta is below 1.5 million dollars, they will be exempt from further requirements after completing the registration. However, it’s crucial to keep all records in case of an audit.  So no reporting requirements if your annual gross revenue is below $1.5 million.

They go on to say that “If the producer’s revenue exceeds 1.5 million but falls under the threshold for certain materials, (in this case 200 tonnes of newsprint annually) then they are still subject to registration, reporting, and record-keeping requirements as outlined in the regulation and bylaws.”
 
Newspaper and magazine exemptions as per ALBERTA REGULATION 194/2022 section 15.1
 
15.1(1)  Subject to subsection (3), if a producer supplies less than 200 tonnes annually of a specific newspaper or magazine, the producer is exempt from the requirements of this Part in respect of the specific newspaper or magazine.
 
(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the following are not considered part of a specific newspaper or magazine and are not included in calculating the weight of a specific newspaper or magazine:
                                 (a)    catalogues;
                                 (b)    flyers;
                                 (c)    packaging;
                                 (d)    packaging‑like products;
                                 (e)    any other paper products     
                                          inserted into the newspaper
                                          or magazine.
(3)  Producers referred to in subsection (1) are subject to any registration, reporting and record‑keeping requirements under this Regulation and the bylaws.
 
To login and register for the EPR prorgram:

https://armaconnect.albertarecycling.ca/s/login/?ec=302&startURL=%2Fs%2F

For other information on EPR and its requirements:

https://www.albertarecycling.ca/epr/faq/