Dear Product Care Members,
The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MoECCS) is taking actions towards preventing packaging waste from the industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) sector from entering the landfills and the environment. An engagement process (see Home – Preventing Waste Outside the Home (gov.bc.ca)) has been launched to gather feedback on effective and efficient policy approaches and solutions to address ICI packaging waste. We encourage you to review the information provided below and participate in the engagement process:
Extended Producer Responsibility Involvement
It is the goal of the MoECCS’s engagement process to echo the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and to reinforcement commitments relevant to reducing ICI packaging and paper products by 2025. The engagement process will provide insight into the expansion of regulated product categories under the 2021-2026 Extended Producer Responsibility 5-year Action Plan.
Target Product Categories
The following product categories are prioritized for discussion and management:
- Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) Waste
- Non-residential packaging and paper products
- Packaging and paper products (PPP)
Target Waste Sources
- Light industrial sources such as agriculture, manufacturing, and jobsites
- Businesses such as retail stores, tourism, and restaurants
- Institutions including hospitals, schools, and universities
How to Participate:
The BC MoECCS is welcoming everyone to provide input to the approach development for the prevention of non-residential packaging waste in BC. Feedback can be submitted through the following means:
| Details | Important Date | Target Audience |
| Provide your feedback: Home – Preventing Waste Outside the Home (gov.bc.ca) | Complete questionnaire by July 23, 2024 | All residents of British Columbia |
| Submit a formal response to the discussion paper: Preventing Waste in British Columbia: Non-Residential Packaging and Paper Products Discussion Paper (gov.bc.ca) | Submit response by July 23, 2024 | Businesses, local and Indigenous governments, and other organizations |
Additional options for providing feedback:
Roundtable discussions and workshops will take place throughout June 2024, businesses and organizations that are interested in participating and providing feedback can contact the ministry at CircularCommunities@gov.bc.ca.
What to Expect?
A summary report and received written submissions meeting the guidelines will be published in the Fall of 2024.
Members are encouraged to engage in this engagement as they may become an obligated producer under the proposed regulation or otherwise have an interest in this issue.
If you have any questions, please reach out to CircularCommunities@gov.bc.ca. Engagement will be opened until July 23, 2024.
Sincerely,
The Product Care team