On July 31, 2025, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) and Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) announced an engagement on the potential inclusion of agricultural plastics in a provincial regulatory system for collecting and recycling designated agricultural plastic waste.
AEPA’s engagement follows the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulation in Alberta on April 1, 2025. To learn more about EPR, visit the EPR webpage.
While EPR does not yet extend to agricultural plastics such as grain bags, silage wrap, or twine, the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG) – in partnership with Cleanfarms – has operated an agricultural plastic recycling pilot program since 2019, which has collected approximately 4,500 tons of grain bags and twine for recycling to date. RMA proudly supports APRG, sitting on its executive committee, and is pleased to see that the Government of Alberta is considering a regulated approach to agricultural plastics recycling.
Agricultural service boards, plastics producers, commodity groups, and producers (such as farmers and ranchers), as well as municipalities and waste management and recycling organizations, are encouraged to complete an online survey to share input on using a regulatory approach for managing agricultural plastics waste, including:
- types of agricultural plastics to include
- clarifying the description of the obligated plastics producer
- material recovery rate targets
- service standards for material collection
The survey closes on September 12, 2025. For more information and to take the survey, visit the engagement webpage.
Joseph Kay
Policy Advisor
587.689.5484
joseph@rmalberta.com
Warren Noga
Manager of Policy and Research
825.319.2285
warren@rmalberta.com