Alberta vs Québec EPR: Rules Compared
Last verified
Alberta and Québec both run packaging EPR, but the rules differ. Québec exempts only producers below the lower revenue floor, CA$1,300,000 against CA$1,500,000 in Alberta. Québec asks for its first annual report earlier, on May 31 against June 30 in Alberta. Québec publishes the higher per-kilogram fee in 4 of 5 shared material classes.
Alberta and Québec side by side
4 of 9 rows have a verified figure on each side of Alberta and Québec; a cell reads “not yet published” when a side has none, and an exemption row reads “none recorded; see thresholds” when no exemption is on record.
| Measure | Alberta | Québec | Stricter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration duty | not yet published | Required | Not comparable |
| Producer organisation | not yet published | one producer responsibility organisation | Not comparable |
| Lowest revenue exemption | CA$1,500,000 | CA$1,300,000 | Québec |
| Lowest weight exemption | none recorded; see thresholds | 1 tonne | Not comparable |
| First annual report date | June 30 | May 31 | Québec |
| Published penalties | not yet published | not yet published | Not comparable |
| Report file | csv | csv | Not comparable |
| Paper fee, cheapest matched rate | 48 cents per kilogram | 806.84 CAD/tonne | Québec |
| Plastic fee, cheapest matched rate | 176 cents per kilogram | 1,882.29 CAD/tonne | Québec |
The lowest revenue exemption is CA$1,500,000 in Alberta and CA$1,300,000 in Québec. Québec therefore reaches smaller sellers: a business with revenue between the two lines is exempt in Alberta but still in scope in Québec.
The earliest annual report date is June 30 in Alberta and May 31 in Québec, 30 days apart. Québec leaves less time to prepare, so its data has to be ready first.
Across 5 shared material classes, Québec publishes the higher cheapest per-kilogram fee in 4, and Alberta in 1. A higher fee is not the same as a stricter rule; it is simply a larger published number per kilogram.
Who runs the programme in Alberta and Québec
Who collects and who the producer files with, in Alberta and then Québec.
| Aspect | Alberta | Québec |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (packaging, paper products) | Regulation respecting a system of selective collection of certain residual materials (Q-2, r. 46.01) |
| Regulator | Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) | not yet published |
| Producers obligated | Yes | Yes |
| Registration | not yet published | Required, ÉEQ declaration portal |
| Producer organisation | not yet published | one producer responsibility organisation: Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ); membership required |
| Revenue counted as | gross revenue inside the jurisdiction, CAD, year | gross revenue inside the jurisdiction, CAD, year |
| Who counts as the producer | primary: brand owner, importer, seller; secondary: brand owner, importer, seller; shipping: brand owner, importer, seller; tertiary: brand owner, importer, seller | other: brand owner, first distributor, online marketplace, seller; primary: brand owner, first distributor, online marketplace, seller; secondary: brand owner, first distributor, online marketplace, seller; service: brand owner, first distributor, online marketplace, seller; shipping: brand owner, first distributor, online marketplace, seller; tertiary: brand owner, first distributor, online marketplace, seller |
Where one side has not yet published how its producer organisations work, this page says so rather than assuming it matches the other side. A seller in both should check the open item before relying on the comparison.
What Alberta and Québec cover, side by side
Each row below is one published feature of the two programmes; a cell reads “not yet published” when Alberta or Québec has no verified entry for it in the dataset.
| Aspect | Alberta | Québec |
|---|---|---|
| Producer duty: primary packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller | brand_owner; first_distributor; marketplace; seller |
| Producer duty: secondary packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller | brand_owner; first_distributor; marketplace; seller |
| Producer duty: tertiary packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller | brand_owner; first_distributor; marketplace; seller |
| Producer duty: shipping packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller | brand_owner; first_distributor; marketplace; seller |
| Reporting categories | 33, material category | 21, material category |
| Exemption 1 | Producers under CAD 1,500,000 Alberta revenue are exempt | Under 1 tonne AND sales under 1.3 million: no report |
| Materials covered | not yet published | paper, plastic, metal, glass, printed paper, packaging |
| Product classes covered | not yet published | containers, packaging, printed matter |
| Sales channels addressed | not yet published | retail, online, distance sale |
| Producer duty: service packaging | not yet published | brand_owner; first_distributor; marketplace; seller |
| Producer duty: other packaging | not yet published | brand_owner; first_distributor; marketplace; seller |
| Labelling | not yet published | Required: Charter of the French Language: s. 51: every inscription on the product, its container or wrapping, and on documents supplied with it (directions for use, warranty certificates) must be in French; a translation may accompany it but never be more prominent than the French.; s. 51.1 and Regulation C-11, r. 9, s. 7.1 (from June 1, 2025): a registered trademark with no French version on the Canadian register may stay in another language, but any generic or descriptive words in it must appear in French on the product or on a medium permanently attached to it. |
Thresholds and exemptions in Alberta and Québec
Every verified threshold Alberta and Québec publish, as each states it.
| Place | Measure | Amount | Effect | Basis as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | revenue | CA$1,500,000 | exempt below | Alberta revenue |
| Alberta | packaging tonnage | 9 tonnes | reduced duty | residential supply per year (9 t paper; 2 t rigid plastic; 2 t flexible plastic; 1 t glass; 1 t metal) |
| Québec | packaging tonnage | 1 tonne | exempt below | targeted materials |
| Québec | packaging tonnage | 1 tonne | exempt below | targeted materials placed on the market |
| Québec | revenue | CA$1,300,000 | exempt below | annual sales (the fee schedule page says 1M or less, 1.3M as of 2024; the step-by-step reporting page says less than 1.3M) |
Alberta exemption: Producers under CAD 1,500,000 Alberta revenue are exempt It does not have to be applied for.
Québec exemption: Under 1 tonne AND sales under 1.3 million: no report It does not have to be applied for.
Read the basis column first: the same amount can exempt a producer in one programme and only simplify its report in another.
The lowest revenue exemption is CA$1,500,000 in Alberta and CA$1,300,000 in Québec. Québec therefore reaches smaller sellers: a business with revenue between the two lines is exempt in Alberta but still in scope in Québec.
Fees per kilogram for shared materials
5 material classes have a published rate on both sides; each row shows the cheapest rate that fits the class.
| Material class | Alberta (CAD per kg) | Québec (CAD per kg) | Higher fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 48 cents per kilogram | 806.84 CAD/tonne | Québec |
| plastic | 176 cents per kilogram | 1,882.29 CAD/tonne | Québec |
| glass | 41 cents per kilogram | 654.24 CAD/tonne | Québec |
| aluminium | 98 cents per kilogram | 476.19 CAD/tonne | Alberta |
| steel | 62 cents per kilogram | 703.17 CAD/tonne | Québec |
Scaling the cheapest published rate by weight shows what the gap between Alberta and Québec amounts to for a given tonnage of one material. The amounts are the rate times the weight, nothing added.
| Material class | Kilograms | Alberta fee (CAD) | Québec fee (CAD) | Québec minus Alberta (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 1 | CA$0.48 | CA$0.81 | +CA$0.33 |
| paper and board | 10 | CA$4.80 | CA$8.07 | +CA$3.27 |
| paper and board | 100 | CA$48.00 | CA$80.68 | +CA$32.68 |
| paper and board | 1,000 | CA$480.00 | CA$806.84 | +CA$326.84 |
| paper and board | 10,000 | CA$4,800.00 | CA$8,068.40 | +CA$3,268.40 |
| paper and board | 100,000 | CA$48,000.00 | CA$80,684.00 | +CA$32,684.00 |
| plastic | 1 | CA$1.76 | CA$1.88 | +CA$0.12 |
| plastic | 10 | CA$17.60 | CA$18.82 | +CA$1.22 |
| plastic | 100 | CA$176.00 | CA$188.23 | +CA$12.23 |
| plastic | 1,000 | CA$1,760.00 | CA$1,882.29 | +CA$122.29 |
| plastic | 10,000 | CA$17,600.00 | CA$18,822.90 | +CA$1,222.90 |
| plastic | 100,000 | CA$176,000.00 | CA$188,229.00 | +CA$12,229.00 |
| glass | 1 | CA$0.41 | CA$0.65 | +CA$0.24 |
| glass | 10 | CA$4.10 | CA$6.54 | +CA$2.44 |
| glass | 100 | CA$41.00 | CA$65.42 | +CA$24.42 |
| glass | 1,000 | CA$410.00 | CA$654.24 | +CA$244.24 |
| glass | 10,000 | CA$4,100.00 | CA$6,542.40 | +CA$2,442.40 |
| glass | 100,000 | CA$41,000.00 | CA$65,424.00 | +CA$24,424.00 |
| aluminium | 1 | CA$0.98 | CA$0.48 | -CA$0.50 |
| aluminium | 10 | CA$9.80 | CA$4.76 | -CA$5.04 |
| aluminium | 100 | CA$98.00 | CA$47.62 | -CA$50.38 |
| aluminium | 1,000 | CA$980.00 | CA$476.19 | -CA$503.81 |
| aluminium | 10,000 | CA$9,800.00 | CA$4,761.90 | -CA$5,038.10 |
| aluminium | 100,000 | CA$98,000.00 | CA$47,619.00 | -CA$50,381.00 |
| steel | 1 | CA$0.62 | CA$0.70 | +CA$0.08 |
| steel | 10 | CA$6.20 | CA$7.03 | +CA$0.83 |
| steel | 100 | CA$62.00 | CA$70.32 | +CA$8.32 |
| steel | 1,000 | CA$620.00 | CA$703.17 | +CA$83.17 |
| steel | 10,000 | CA$6,200.00 | CA$7,031.70 | +CA$831.70 |
| steel | 100,000 | CA$62,000.00 | CA$70,317.00 | +CA$8,317.00 |
Both schedules are in CAD, so the figures compare directly.
Québec: the 2027 fee schedule of Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
Alberta: the 2027 fee schedule of Circular Materials Alberta (ARMA PPP), effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
Alberta 2027: the category “Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging” is published at 48 cents per kilogram.
Alberta 2027: the category “LDPE/HDPE Film” is published at 176 cents per kilogram.
Alberta 2027: the category “Clear Glass” is published at 41 cents per kilogram.
Alberta 2027: the category “Aluminum Food Containers” is published at 98 cents per kilogram.
Alberta 2027: the category “Other Steel Containers and Packaging” is published at 62 cents per kilogram.
Québec 2027: the category “Boxboard, other paper packaging and alternative fibres” is published at 806.84 CAD/tonne.
Québec 2027: the category “HDPE and LDPE films or shopping bags” is published at 1,882.29 CAD/tonne.
Québec 2027: the category “Clear glass” is published at 654.24 CAD/tonne.
Québec 2027: the category “Aluminum” is published at 476.19 CAD/tonne.
Québec 2027: the category “Steel” is published at 703.17 CAD/tonne.
Real packs usually land in a dearer category, so use the calculator for Alberta and Québec.
Deadlines in Alberta and Québec
Each verified date, with the period it covers when one is given.
| Place | Kind | Date | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | report | June 30 | preceding calendar year (January 1 to December 31) |
| Alberta | rate publication | March 8 | current calendar year's ARMA oversight fees (based on supply data from two years earlier) |
| Alberta | payment | April 8 | current calendar year's ARMA oversight fees |
| Alberta | other | October 1, 2026 | not yet published |
| Québec | report | May 31, 2026 | 2026 report (supply data used for the 2027 producer financial participation, PFP 2027) |
| Québec | other | June 30, 2026 | 2026 report |
| Québec | payment | January 31, 2027 | PFP 2027 (contribution based on the 2026 report), installment 1 of 4 |
| Québec | payment | April 30, 2027 | PFP 2027 (contribution based on the 2026 report), installment 2 of 4 |
| Québec | payment | July 31, 2027 | PFP 2027 (contribution based on the 2026 report), installment 3 of 4 |
| Québec | payment | October 31, 2027 | PFP 2027 (contribution based on the 2026 report), installment 4 of 4 |
| Québec | other | May 31, 2028 | 2026 report |
The earliest annual report date is June 30 in Alberta and May 31 in Québec, 30 days apart. Québec leaves less time to prepare, so its data has to be ready first.
Penalties in Alberta and Québec
What each side has published; a side without an amount says so.
Report formats in Alberta and Québec
How the report file for Alberta compares with the one for Québec.
| Aspect | Alberta | Québec |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Alberta PPP producer annual report Fee-year categories, reviewed 2026-09-29 | ÉEQ annual declaration Fee-year categories, reviewed 2026-09-29 |
| Recipient | Alberta Recycling Management Authority | Éco Entreprises Québec |
| How it is submitted | ARMA producer portal | declaration.eeq.ca |
| File type | csv | csv |
| Encoding | utf-8 | utf-8 |
| Delimiter | , | , |
| Decimal separator | . | |
| Columns | 4 | 4 |
| Required columns | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Weight unit | kg | tonne |
| Period basis | calendar year | calendar year |
The two layouts share a file type and a delimiter, but each programme names its own columns and categories, so one file cannot be sent to both programmes. Each report is built from the same underlying measurements and exported separately.
Which to plan for first, Alberta or Québec
Plan around the earlier report date first. Québec asks for its first annual report on May 31, before Alberta, so its data has to be ready first.
Check the exemption thresholds before anything else. Québec reaches smaller sellers than Alberta, so a seller that is exempt in Alberta may still have to register in Québec.
Questions about comparing these two programmes
Is Alberta or Québec stricter on packaging EPR?
Québec exempts only producers below the lower revenue floor, CA$1,300,000 against CA$1,500,000 in Alberta. Québec asks for its first annual report earlier, on May 31 against June 30 in Alberta. Québec publishes the higher per-kilogram fee in 4 of 5 shared material classes.
Do I register in both Alberta and Québec?
Alberta has not yet published its registration duty. Québec requires producers to register.
How do the fees per kilogram compare in Alberta and Québec?
Across 5 shared material classes, Québec publishes the higher cheapest per-kilogram fee in 4, and Alberta in 1. A higher fee is not the same as a stricter rule; it is simply a larger published number per kilogram.
Which deadline comes first, Alberta or Québec?
The earliest annual report date is June 30 in Alberta and May 31 in Québec, 30 days apart. Québec leaves less time to prepare, so its data has to be ready first.
How these figures are made
Sources
- albertarecycling.ca retrieved
Original wording: PPP Producers shall submit an annual report to the Authority no later than June 30th each year.
- files.albertarecycling.ca: EPR Single‑Use Products Packaging and Paper Products Bylaws retrieved
Original wording: has an annual gross revenue in Alberta less than one million and five hundred thousand dollars $1,500,000.
Original wording: less than each of the amounts listed for the following materials: (a) 9 tonnes of paper per calendar year; (b) 2 tonnes of rigid plastic
Original wording: PPP Producers shall submit an annual report to the Authority no later than June 30th each year.
Original wording: A PPP Producer must provide, by October 1, 2026, to single-family dwellings in Registered Communities that were not receiving recycling service
- kings-printer.alberta.ca: 2022 194 retrieved
Original wording: the producer is (a) the brand holder of the designated material, if the brand holder is resident in Canada,
- albertarecycling.ca: EPR Oversight Fee Guide retrieved
Original wording: By March 8 Notice of Final Oversight Fees posted (minimum of 30 days prior to invoicing) April 8 Invoicing of Oversight Fees
- circularmaterials.ca: Circular Materials Report to Producers 2025 retrieved
Original wording: Newspapers 83 84 -1.2%
- eeq.ca retrieved
Original wording: Regulation respecting a system of selective collection of certain residual materials
- eeq.ca: preparing and submitting your report step by step retrieved
Original wording: You run an online store, with or without a place of business in Quebec.
Original wording: annual sales of less than $1.3 million.
Original wording: your business generates less than one metric ton of targeted materials and has annual sales of less than $1.3 million.
- legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca: Q 2, r. 46.01 retrieved
Original wording: incombent à la personne domiciliée ou qui a un établissement au Québec qui y agit à titre de premier fournisseur, à l’exclusion du fabricant
- eeq.ca: fee schedule to help with your report retrieved
Original wording: Are a retailer with a single outlet with a floor space of less than 929 m²
Original wording: Newspapers
Original wording: 2027 Producer financial participation (PFP)
Original wording: Boxboard and other paper packaging Alternative fibers $806.84
Original wording: HDPE and LDPE plastic films or shopping bags $1,882.29
Original wording: Clear glass $654.24
Original wording: Containers and packaging, including aerosol containers $476.19
Original wording: Containers, including aerosol containers $703.17
- eeq.ca: important dates for your report retrieved
Original wording: Reporting deadline: May 31, 2026
Original wording: Deadline to submit a Bonus application: June 30, 2026
- eeq.ca: les dates a retenir pour votre declaration retrieved
Original wording: Date limite pour payer chacun des quatre versements de PFP 2027 : 31 janvier 2027, 30 avril 2027, 31 juillet 2027, 31 octobre 2027
Original wording: Date limite pour formuler une demande de modifications : 31 mai 2028
- legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca: C 11 retrieved
Original wording: if a generic term or a description of the product is included in the trademark, it must appear in French on the product
- knowledge.werecycle.ca: Report to Producers 2026 OCT15 retrieved
Original wording: Circular Materials in Alberta Fee Schedule (Cents/Kg)
Original wording: Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging 48 40 20.0%
Original wording: LDPE/HDPE Film 176 198 -11.1%
Original wording: Clear Glass 41 45 -8.9%
Original wording: Aluminum Food Containers 98 77 27 .3%
Original wording: Other Steel Containers and Packaging 62 69 -10.1%
The free plan is enough to start. We estimate and prepare; you sign and submit.