Summary#
This bill amends the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to ban the export of listed plastic wastes to any foreign country when the shipment is for final disposal. It defines “plastic waste” by adding a new Schedule 7 listing many common polymers and lets the federal Cabinet update that list by order. It also makes violating the ban a CEPA offence.
- Prohibits exporting listed plastic waste to foreign countries for final disposal (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended).
- Defines covered “plastic waste” through a new Schedule 7 that names common polymers (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyurethane, epoxy resins, certain fluoropolymers) (Schedule 7).
- Allows Cabinet to add or remove plastics from the list by order, on the Minister’s recommendation (CEPA 186(1.3), as amended).
- Makes contravention an offence under CEPA’s existing penalty framework (CEPA 272(1)(a), as amended).
- Does not address exports for recycling; the ban applies only to shipments for final disposal (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended).
What it means for you#
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Households
- No direct change to what you can put at the curb is specified. The bill targets exporters and shipments, not household behavior. Any local collection changes would be decided by provinces/municipalities. Data unavailable.
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Workers
- Waste export, brokerage, and logistics workers handling plastic waste destined for foreign final disposal would see those exports stop upon the law taking effect (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended).
- Compliance tasks may increase for firms documenting that shipments are not for final disposal. Data unavailable.
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Businesses
- Waste exporters and brokers: You could not export listed plastic waste for final disposal to any foreign country; alternatives would include domestic disposal or lawful exports for recycling (if compliant with other laws) (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended).
- Recyclers and processors: Potential increase in supply of listed plastics that can no longer be exported for disposal; impacts depend on market capacity. Data unavailable.
- All covered businesses face CEPA offence exposure if they export listed plastics for final disposal contrary to the ban (CEPA 272(1)(a), as amended).
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Local governments
- If you or your contractors export any listed plastic waste for final disposal, you would need alternative disposal or processing options, domestically or via non‑disposal pathways (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended).
- The list of covered plastics can change by federal order, which may affect contract planning over time (CEPA 186(1.3), as amended).
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Service users
- No new fees or service standards are set in the bill. Any cost or service changes would come through provincial/municipal systems or private contracts. Data unavailable.
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Timing
- The bill sets no special coming‑into‑force date; such amendments typically take effect when the bill becomes law. The text provides no phase‑in period. Data unavailable.
Expenses#
Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.
- No explicit appropriations, new fees, or tax changes appear in the bill text.
- Enforcement would occur under CEPA’s existing compliance and penalties framework; the bill adds the new prohibition to the offence list (CEPA 272(1)(a), as amended).
- Federal or provincial/municipal cost impacts (e.g., enforcement, contract changes) are not quantified in the bill or an official fiscal note. Data unavailable.
| Item | Amount | Frequency | Source |
|---|
| Direct appropriations in bill | $0 | One-time | Bill text |
| Federal enforcement/administration | Data unavailable | Ongoing | Data unavailable |
| Provincial/municipal waste management impacts | Data unavailable | Ongoing | Data unavailable |
Proponents' View#
- Reduces Canada’s role in sending plastic waste abroad for disposal by making such exports illegal, rather than regulated, for the listed plastics (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended).
- Targets a broad set of common polymers via Schedule 7, covering many packaging and product plastics; Cabinet can update the list quickly as materials evolve (Schedule 7; CEPA 186(1.3), as amended).
- Keeps accountability at home by steering listed plastics away from foreign final disposal and toward domestic management or lawful recycling pathways (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended). Quantitative impact: Data unavailable.
- Strengthens enforcement clarity by adding the prohibition to CEPA’s offence provisions, enabling existing penalties for violations (CEPA 272(1)(a), as amended).
Opponents' View#
- Limited scope: the ban applies only to “final disposal,” not to exports for recycling, which could allow mislabeling or create enforcement challenges in proving disposal intent (CEPA 186(1.2), as amended). Magnitude: Data unavailable.
- Potential cost shifts: municipalities and contractors that relied on exporting listed plastics for disposal may face higher domestic disposal or processing costs; household fees or taxes could be affected. Quantitative estimates: Data unavailable.
- Coverage gaps: a fixed list may omit some plastics until Cabinet updates Schedule 7, creating uncertainty for waste handlers in the interim (Schedule 7; CEPA 186(1.3), as amended).
- Compliance and trade administration: firms may face added paperwork to document shipment purpose; regulators must verify claims, which could strain enforcement resources. Costs and capacity: Data unavailable.