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Solid Waste Regulations — BC & Federal

This page tracks current regulatory information and updates from the BC Ministry of Environment and Parks and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Note: the former Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy became the Ministry of Environment and Parks in late 2024.

Provincial – BC Ministry of Environment and Parks

RECYCLING REGULATION / EPR

HAZARDOUS WASTE / MODERATE RISK WASTE

ORGANICS

  • 2026 | OMRR Modernization — Project Update published: The Ministry has released a 2026 Project Update outlining policy refinements and updated timelines for amending the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. The Ministry intends to recommend regulation updates before the end of 2026, with new requirements phasing in from spring 2027. Key refinements include: flexible odour-management requirements for compost facilities (in place of mandatory enclosure), adoption of BNQ Class A compost quality standards, new foreign matter/plastics limits, a tiered registration system replacing notifications, allowance of wood utensils and uncoated fibre-based items as feedstock (supporting the Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation), a 50 ppb PFOS classification limit for biosolids aligned with federal Fertilizers Act standards, and new director authority to require PFAS/CEC sampling. See the OMRR regulation & guidance page.
  • April 2026 | CleanBC Organics Funding Program awards funding to four communities as part of $14M investment

PLASTICS

  • 2025 | Remaining ~$8M in CleanBC Plastics Action Fund awarded to BC-based plastics recycling and reuse projects
  • July 15, 2024 | Parts 2 and 3 of the Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation come into force (food service accessories, oxo-degradable plastics, polystyrene foam food packaging, and more)

Federal – Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

FEDERAL PLASTICS REGISTRY

  • Federal Plastics Registry — main page
  • Phase 1 reporting in effect: producers of plastic packaging, electronic and electrical equipment, and single-use/disposable plastics destined for the residential waste stream report annually (2025 data due Sept. 29, 2026; 2026 data due Sept. 29, 2027)
  • December 2025 | ECCC defers Phases 2 and 3 (expanded categories including textiles and ICI waste) to allow streamlining of reporting requirements
  • March 14, 2026 | Notice of Intent published in Canada Gazette to continue Registry reporting for 2027–2029

SINGLE-USE PLASTICS / CEPA

  • Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations remain in force
  • January 2026 | Federal Court of Appeal upholds the CEPA Schedule 1 listing of “plastic manufactured items”; a leave application to the Supreme Court of Canada (filed March 31, 2026) is pending
  • Proposed federal recycled-content and recyclability-labelling requirements remain in development

PFAS (“FOREVER CHEMICALS”)