Federal Plastics Registry Reporting Notice

Summary#

This is a federal notice under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 that asks certain businesses to report data on plastic resins and many types of plastic products to the Federal Plastics Registry run by Environment and Climate Change Canada. It covers the calendar years 2024, 2025 and 2026, with staggered deadlines (see below) and requires submission through an online portal.

What it does#

• Requires companies and other organizations to give the federal government information about:
  • the kinds and amounts (kilograms) of plastic resins they manufacture, import, or place on the Canadian market;
  • the resins used in plastic packaging and many plastic products (examples below), by resin type and by source (virgin, recycled, etc.);
  • quantities of plastic sent for recycling, reuse, composting, incineration, or landfill at end of life.
• Phases the reporting over three years:
  • For 2024: initial reporting focuses on resins and on plastic packaging plus two product groups — electronics and single-use/disposable items.
  • For 2025: reporting expands to cover all product categories listed and adds business-to-business and industrial/commercial/institutional streams and generator-level waste data.
  • For 2026: adds further end-of-life reporting (for example, electronics and tires) as set out in the notice.
• Lists the product groups covered. Examples include packaging (rigid and flexible), electronic and electrical equipment, tires, transportation parts, construction materials, agricultural and horticultural plastics, fishing and aquaculture gear, apparel and textiles, and many single-use items (e.g., food service ware, disposable personal hygiene items).
• Allows a person to designate a producer responsibility organization (PRO) or another delegate to report on their behalf.
• Requires records and supporting calculations to be kept for 3 years after the submission deadline.
• Exempts small amounts: a person who manufactures, imports, places on the market, generates, or manages less than 1,000 kg per year in the specified categories is exempt from reporting.
• Submissions must be made through the online portal named in the notice.
• The Minister intends to publish part of the information submitted. Reporters may request confidential treatment under the Act; the Minister can still decide to disclose information in some cases.
• Deadlines for sending each year’s data:
  • 2024 data due no later than September 29, 2025
  • 2025 data due no later than September 29, 2026
  • 2026 data due no later than September 29, 2027
• Failure to comply can lead to charges under the Act.

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers and importers of plastic resins and plastics.
• Producers and brand owners of plastic packaging and plastic products in the listed categories (packaging, electronics, tires, construction, agriculture, fishing gear, textiles, single‑use items, etc.).
• Generators of packaging and plastic product waste at industrial, commercial, or institutional (ICI) facilities.
• Service providers that collect, repair, refurbish, recycle (mechanical or chemical), compost, incinerate, process into fuels/chemicals, or landfill plastics.
• Producer responsibility organizations (PROs) and any firms hired to prepare reports.
• Small operators or businesses that meet the 1,000 kg per‑year exemption are not required to report.
• Ordinary consumers are not asked to submit anything, but the data could inform future rules that affect products they buy.

Why it matters#

• The government is building a detailed federal inventory of plastics. That information will help shape rules, targets, recycling programs, and codes of practice.
• Businesses that make, import, handle, or manage plastics will need to gather production, import and end‑of‑life data. That takes time and record-keeping, especially where reporting is new or data are distributed across different parts of a company or supply chain.
• Some submitted information may be published publicly, which could affect market transparency. There is a process to request confidentiality, but it is not guaranteed.
• The phased approach spreads reporting work over three years, but larger producers and waste managers should plan to meet the specific deadlines and to keep records for 3 years after submission.