Options for recycling metals, glass, plastics, and paper have become commonplace both in and out of our homes—but how does recycling work, and why does it differ from place to place? Here we take a deep dive into the recycling policies and practices of each Canadian province and territory and discuss your role when it comes to recycling.
Yes! It matters
Sometimes, it can feel like our individual efforts are futile. But the facts tell us that one person does have the power to make a difference:
- Recycling 10 magazines can power a 60W CFL lightbulb for 10.8 hours.
- Recycling just one pop can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours.
- Recycling 10 plastic bottles conserves enough energy to power a laptop for over 25 hours.
The collective effort of individuals can also make a palpable difference:
- Recycling one ton of paper (equal to 200,000 sheets of A4 paper) can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 3 cubic yards of landfill space.
If you’re curious, you can do your own calculations to see how much energy is saved by recycling everyday items like a cereal box, a sheet of printer paper, or a steel soup can.
Recycling across Canada
Western Canada
British Columbia (BC) has a reputation for being ahead of the curve. More than 99 percent of BC residents have access to packaging and paper recycling services. In 2014, an extended producer responsibility (EPR) recycling system was instituted. Within this framework, producers―including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers―are responsible for the life cycle of the products they sell.
BC also boasts a low contamination rate, which has been attributed to multiple factors, including strong education and promotion of the program, along with source-separated material categories at the depot level.
More recently, Recycle BC, a producer-funded nonprofit that provides residential recycling services across BC, introduced their first fully electric truck in 2023. The result? During the first 12 months of operation, there was a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 19,658 tonnes―the equivalent of taking four cars off the road for a year.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, like BC, also use a producer-responsibility model.
In Manitoba, 95 percent have access to residential recycling. Manitoba’s Recyclepedia helps residents understand how―and where―to recycle various materials. In 2010, only 52 percent of eligible packaging and printed paper was recovered annually, while in 2022, that number climbed to 71.8 percent.
Eastern Canada
Ontario is also transitioning, from a system jointly operated by municipalities, First Nations communities, and producers, to an EPR system with a rollout slated before 2026.
Quebec, in 2022, boasted one of the highest solid waste diversion rates in Canada at more than 30 percent (on par with Nova Scotia and BC).
New Brunswick has implemented their own EPR program effective November 2024. A provincial program for recycling batteries and lightbulbs is currently in the works.
Nova Scotia, in 2022, earned the distinction of having the highest waste diversion rate in Canada at 43 percent.
Northern Canada
The Northwest Territories offers recycling programs for beverage containers, single-use retail bags, electronics, and general recycling, as well as a waste-reduction initiative. Here, residents, organizations, businesses, and communities are invited to pitch projects for waste reduction and recycling. The Food First Foundation, which provided reusable dishware to schools, was one of these initiatives.
The Yukon plans to implement an EPR program by 2025. Their collection methods currently vary from a subscription-based service for the curbside collection of blue bins to community recycling depots.
Room for improvement
Canadians recycle only 9 percent of the 3 million tonnes of plastic waste we produce each year.
Rethinking recycling
Prevent
Preventing waste in the first place is the best way to reduce it. Do your grocery shopping thoughtfully; buy used items; or borrow, rent, or share items that you don’t need to access as often.
Re-use
Re-using items should be your next stop: empty metal cans can hold oil and grease, discarded cartons can serve as planters, while stand-up pouches can be turned into snack bags. As well, try re-using plastic packaging to line your bins, donating your gently used clothing to thrift stores, or reusing your holey socks to create pet toys.
Organize
Make recycling easier. To ensure you get the whole family’s involvement in recycling, you might want to keep a bin in all areas of your house, especially the bathrooms, so it’s convenient to recycle from any room.
It starts at home
It’s crucial to be careful about what and how you recycle. When recycled materials reach the recycling plant, they’re placed on a series of conveyor belts, where they’re sorted through hand-picking, magnets, and air classifiers.
Recycling an item that’s not recyclable or failing to rinse out jars or remove labels can cause an entire load of recyclable material to be contaminated. It can also impact the salability of a load of materials, thus causing additional costs―monetary and environmental ones.
Beyond the blue bin
Opportunities also abound to recycle beyond your blue bin:
- Writing instruments can be dropped off at Staples Free Recycling Program.
- Your glasses may be recyclable at your local optometrist’s.
- Electronics like TVs, computers and printers, cellphones, and even e-bikes and e-scooters can be recycled at nonprofit Electronic Products Recycling Association recycling centres across Canada.
Recycling rebates for Canadian consumers
On zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)
The federal government offers up to $5,000 at the point of sale for the purchase or lease of light-duty ZEVs, which includes most personal vehicles. BC, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and the Yukon offer incentives in this area as well.
On heat pumps
The federal government offers eligible Canadians an upfront payment of up to $10,000 (or up to $15,000 in participating provinces) to switch from oil heating to new, energy-efficient heat pumps.
On energy-efficient homes
The Canadian government is currently offering 10 year interest-free loans from $5,000-$40,000 on eligible retrofits, including home insulation, windows and doors, thermostat, space and water heating, and renewable energy.
This article was originally published in the April 2025 issue of alive magazine.
Joshua Duvauchelle
Joanne Peters
Caitlin Wright