(Cochrane, AB) – On September 2, Cochrane Administration presented an update to Council on new Extended Producer Responsibility program. Alberta’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program went into effect on April 1, 2025, shifting the cost of recycling from taxpayers to the manufacturers that make packaging, paper products, batteries and hazardous waste.
Under the EPR program, producers (the companies who make products) are now responsible for funding the collection and processing of certain types of waste. The change means savings for Cochrane; the Town will receive $938,687 in 2025 from EPR contracts. These funds will be allocated by Council in a future presentation on the 2025 operational surplus.
“The initial savings created by the implementation of Alberta’s EPR program is a win for residents,” says Shawn Tooth, Director of Utilities, Town of Cochrane. “Thanks to the efforts of residents, Cochrane already has one of the best waste diversion rates in Canada, with 65% of residential collection diverted though the recycling and organics program. EPR eases the cost for Cochrane to collect and deliver recyclables for sorting, recycling and reuse.”
Under the EPR program, decisions about the recycling program will be made by Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), partners that represent producers. However, there are no changes expected to materials accepted in blue carts or at the Eco Centre this year.
To find the latest information on accepted recyclable materials and support, visit cochrane.ca/wasteandrecycling. For more information on EPR, visit cochrane.ca/EPR.