Alberta Plastics Recycling Association

‘’The clock is now ticking for governments to make a decisive choice at the next negotiating session in 2025.’’ - Rob Opsomer, Executive Lead on Plastics and Finance, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Despite the determined efforts of the Chair and government representatives, countries did not reach a final agreement at the fifth round of negotiations (INC-5) for a global plastics treaty, which closed on the 1st of December in Busan, South Korea. A draft text released on Sunday revealed continued division between the majority of countries calling for binding global rules across the full plastics lifecycle and a smaller number of countries opposing such measures. An ambitious treaty provides a real chance to prevent plastic waste from being created in the first place. Governments should now seize this opportunity to show that the world can meet global challenges with global solutions. Read the Foundation’s statement on the outcome of INC-5 here: https://lnkd.in/e8QAGbbK

A guide to the terms and calculations used in plastics recycling written by a major Canadian standards organization is a welcome idea that could settle some ambiguities but still leaves questions unanswered, industry figures say. The task extended to what kind of plastic is eligible, which kind of recycling methodology counts, how a plastic recycling rate should be calculated, and even defining "recycling" itself. The CSA Group is helping to “align everyone and create that consistent approach to measurement and understanding where that recycling is defined as taking place,” Tammy Schwass, the executive director of the Alberta Plastics Recycling Association, told Sustainable Biz Canada in an interview. While the document is clear and concise, it is basic and “doesn’t get into a lot of the grey, weedy areas in terms of definitions,” Tribu Persaud ஃ, the director of business development at Cambridge, Ont.-based Norwich Plastics, said. #plastics #recycling #Canada https://lnkd.in/gU2Wu5Gy

Today, the Canada Plastics Pact released the Canada-wide Plastic Packaging Flows 2024 Progress Report! Key Takeaways: 🔄 16% of plastic packaging in Canada was recycled in 2022, with recycling rates for each waste stream as follows:  Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) Sector: 11%, Residential Sector: 17%, and Deposit Return Systems: 60%. 📈 Plastic packaging production remains high, with an increasing volume of rigid plastics entering the market. Flexible plastics continue to have low recycling rates, and barriers to recycling ICI plastic packaging persist. 📊 Progress since 2019 has been gradual but there are significant changes that CPP Partners are leading that will pave the way for continued progress. ♻️ By prioritizing upstream elimination, product redesign, and improvements in collection and recycling systems, we can drive progress toward reducing plastic waste in Canada. The expansion of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and other complementary policies, alongside scaling necessary infrastructure, addressing data gaps, and targeting recycling system improvements in high-waste ICI subsectors will also create a more effective and efficient recycling system. 🔑 Now that we have updated data to inform decision making for better policy, infrastructure, and innovation, concerted action from leaders and experts across the plastics value chain is required to accelerate system-wide change and meet zero plastic waste targets. 👉 Dive into the full findings and explore the recycling rates by waste stream and sector: https://lnkd.in/eNvAKaZA A big thank you to Policy Integrity Inc., Avaanz Ltd., Lichens, and JTL Squared Consulting Inc. (Jodi Tomchyshyn London) for their contributions to the research and writing of this report.

Heading into the fifth and final negotiation session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, or #INC5, in Busan, Korea, the world is on the brink of a legally binding agreement that could end plastic pollution. This is too important a moment to take for granted, and I am advocating for such an agreement that will create a more circular economy and drive demand for recycled materials. To achieve our shared ambitions, we need to change the way the world uses, recycles, and reuses plastics. A successful agreement can end the leakage of plastic in our environment. It must also recognize the importance of plastic as both an essential building block across sectors and vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including a low-emissions economy, clean water, and food security. Concerted collaboration among all stakeholders is key for this agreement to be successful. While there is still progress to be made, we’re confident a circular economy for plastics is within reach. Read the full op-ed for more about what will make the agreement successful: https://dow.inc/4eH5pFp