British Columbia vs Saskatchewan EPR: Rules Compared
Last verified
British Columbia and Saskatchewan both run packaging EPR, but the rules differ. Both set the lowest revenue exemption at CA$1,000,000. Both set the lowest weight exemption at 1 tonne. Both require producers to register. Both programmes set their first annual report for May 31. British Columbia publishes the higher per-kilogram fee in 4 of 5 shared material classes.
British Columbia and Saskatchewan side by side
6 of 9 rows have a verified figure on each side of British Columbia and Saskatchewan; 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 | British Columbia | Saskatchewan | Stricter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration duty | Required | Required | Same |
| Producer organisation | one producer responsibility organisation | one producer responsibility organisation | Not comparable |
| Lowest revenue exemption | CA$1,000,000 | CA$1,000,000 | Same |
| Lowest weight exemption | 1 tonne | 1 tonne | Same |
| First annual report date | May 31 | May 31 | Same |
| Published penalties | 1 published | not yet published | Not comparable |
| Report file | csv | csv | Not comparable |
| Paper fee, cheapest matched rate | 81 cents per kilogram | 31 cents per kilogram | British Columbia |
| Plastic fee, cheapest matched rate | 174 cents per kilogram | 113 cents per kilogram | British Columbia |
The lowest revenue exemption is the same on both sides: CA$1,000,000. A seller just under that line is out of scope in British Columbia and in Saskatchewan alike.
The lowest weight exemption is the same on both sides: 1 tonne of packaging.
Both programmes require a producer to register, in British Columbia and in Saskatchewan.
The first annual report date is the same on both sides, May 31.
Across 5 shared material classes, British Columbia publishes the higher cheapest per-kilogram fee in 4, and Saskatchewan 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 British Columbia and Saskatchewan
Who collects and who the producer files with, in British Columbia and then Saskatchewan.
| Aspect | British Columbia | Saskatchewan |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | Recycling Regulation, B.C. Reg. 449/2004 (packaging and paper product category) | Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations, 2023 |
| Producers obligated | Yes | Yes |
| Registration | Required, Recycle BC membership, registered through the WeRecycle Portal | Required, SK Recycles producer portal |
| Producer organisation | one producer responsibility organisation: Recycle BC; membership required | one producer responsibility organisation: SK Recycles; membership required |
| Transfer of responsibility | Allowed | not yet published |
| Revenue counted as | gross revenue inside the jurisdiction, CAD, most recent calendar year | not yet published |
| Who counts as the producer | other: manufacturer or brand owner, brand licensee, importer; primary: manufacturer or brand owner, brand licensee, importer; secondary: manufacturer or brand owner, brand licensee, importer; service: manufacturer or brand owner, brand licensee, importer; shipping: manufacturer or brand owner, brand licensee, importer; tertiary: manufacturer or brand owner, brand licensee, importer | primary: brand owner, importer, seller; secondary: brand owner, importer, seller; tertiary: brand owner, importer, seller |
Both programmes organise producer responsibility the same way: one producer responsibility organisation. The practical differences between British Columbia and Saskatchewan therefore sit in thresholds, fees, dates and report formats rather than in whom a producer deals with.
What British Columbia and Saskatchewan cover, side by side
Each row below is one published feature of the two programmes; a cell reads “not yet published” when British Columbia or Saskatchewan has no verified entry for it in the dataset.
| Aspect | British Columbia | Saskatchewan |
|---|---|---|
| Materials covered | paper, plastic, metal, glass, printed paper, packaging | not yet published |
| Product classes covered | packaging, paper products | not yet published |
| Excluded from scope | liquor containers handled separately, small producers | not yet published |
| Sales channels addressed | retail, online, distance sale | not yet published |
| Producer duty: primary packaging | manufacturer_brand_owner; licensee; importer | brand_owner; importer; seller |
| Producer duty: secondary packaging | manufacturer_brand_owner; licensee; importer | brand_owner; importer; seller |
| Producer duty: tertiary packaging | manufacturer_brand_owner; licensee; importer | brand_owner; importer; seller |
| Producer duty: shipping packaging | manufacturer_brand_owner; licensee; importer | not yet published |
| Producer duty: service packaging | manufacturer_brand_owner; licensee; importer | not yet published |
| Producer duty: other packaging | manufacturer_brand_owner; licensee; importer | not yet published |
| Reporting categories | 23, material category | 19, material category |
| Exemption 1 | Businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenues in BC, or that supply less than 1,000 kg (one tonne) of packaging and paper product to BC residents | Under 1,000 kg to Saskatchewan residents |
| Exemption 2 | Businesses that operate as a single point of retail sale and are not supplied or operated as part of a franchise, a chain or under a banner | Businesses under CAD 1 million in annual revenue |
| Exemption 3 | Businesses that are a registered charity | not yet published |
| Exemption 4 | Recycle BC FAQ states non-resident direct shippers are not obligated (they may elect to become voluntary producers) | not yet published |
Thresholds and exemptions in British Columbia and Saskatchewan
Every verified threshold British Columbia and Saskatchewan publish, as each states it.
| Place | Measure | Amount | Effect | Basis as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | revenue | CA$1,000,000 | exempt below | gross revenue in BC, most recent calendar year |
| British Columbia | packaging tonnage | 1 tonne | exempt below | packaging and paper produced in the most recent calendar year |
| British Columbia | packaging weight | 15,000 kg | flat-fee band | packaging and paper supplied to BC residents in a year (flat-fee bands 1,000-2,499; 2,500-4,999; 5,000-9,999; 10,000-15,000 kg) |
| Saskatchewan | packaging weight | 1,000 kg | exempt below | annual supply to Saskatchewan residents |
| Saskatchewan | packaging weight | 5,000 kg | flat-fee band | 1,000 to 5,000 kg |
| Saskatchewan | revenue | CA$1,000,000 | exempt below | annual revenue |
British Columbia exemption: Businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenues in BC, or that supply less than 1,000 kg (one tonne) of packaging and paper product to BC residents It does not have to be applied for.
British Columbia exemption: Businesses that operate as a single point of retail sale and are not supplied or operated as part of a franchise, a chain or under a banner It does not have to be applied for.
British Columbia exemption: Businesses that are a registered charity It does not have to be applied for.
British Columbia exemption: Recycle BC FAQ states non-resident direct shippers are not obligated (they may elect to become voluntary producers) It does not have to be applied for.
Saskatchewan exemption: Under 1,000 kg to Saskatchewan residents It does not have to be applied for.
Saskatchewan exemption: Businesses under CAD 1 million in annual revenue 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 the same on both sides: CA$1,000,000. A seller just under that line is out of scope in British Columbia and in Saskatchewan alike.
The lowest weight exemption is the same on both sides: 1 tonne of packaging.
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 | British Columbia (CAD per kg) | Saskatchewan (CAD per kg) | Higher fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 81 cents per kilogram | 31 cents per kilogram | British Columbia |
| plastic | 174 cents per kilogram | 113 cents per kilogram | British Columbia |
| glass | 61 cents per kilogram | 30 cents per kilogram | British Columbia |
| aluminium | 35 cents per kilogram | 86 cents per kilogram | Saskatchewan |
| steel | 71 cents per kilogram | 46 cents per kilogram | British Columbia |
Scaling the cheapest published rate by weight shows what the gap between British Columbia and Saskatchewan amounts to for a given tonnage of one material. The amounts are the rate times the weight, nothing added.
| Material class | Kilograms | British Columbia fee (CAD) | Saskatchewan fee (CAD) | Saskatchewan minus British Columbia (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 1 | CA$0.81 | CA$0.31 | -CA$0.50 |
| paper and board | 10 | CA$8.10 | CA$3.10 | -CA$5.00 |
| paper and board | 100 | CA$81.00 | CA$31.00 | -CA$50.00 |
| paper and board | 1,000 | CA$810.00 | CA$310.00 | -CA$500.00 |
| paper and board | 10,000 | CA$8,100.00 | CA$3,100.00 | -CA$5,000.00 |
| paper and board | 100,000 | CA$81,000.00 | CA$31,000.00 | -CA$50,000.00 |
| plastic | 1 | CA$1.74 | CA$1.13 | -CA$0.61 |
| plastic | 10 | CA$17.40 | CA$11.30 | -CA$6.10 |
| plastic | 100 | CA$174.00 | CA$113.00 | -CA$61.00 |
| plastic | 1,000 | CA$1,740.00 | CA$1,130.00 | -CA$610.00 |
| plastic | 10,000 | CA$17,400.00 | CA$11,300.00 | -CA$6,100.00 |
| plastic | 100,000 | CA$174,000.00 | CA$113,000.00 | -CA$61,000.00 |
| glass | 1 | CA$0.61 | CA$0.30 | -CA$0.31 |
| glass | 10 | CA$6.10 | CA$3.00 | -CA$3.10 |
| glass | 100 | CA$61.00 | CA$30.00 | -CA$31.00 |
| glass | 1,000 | CA$610.00 | CA$300.00 | -CA$310.00 |
| glass | 10,000 | CA$6,100.00 | CA$3,000.00 | -CA$3,100.00 |
| glass | 100,000 | CA$61,000.00 | CA$30,000.00 | -CA$31,000.00 |
| aluminium | 1 | CA$0.35 | CA$0.86 | +CA$0.51 |
| aluminium | 10 | CA$3.50 | CA$8.60 | +CA$5.10 |
| aluminium | 100 | CA$35.00 | CA$86.00 | +CA$51.00 |
| aluminium | 1,000 | CA$350.00 | CA$860.00 | +CA$510.00 |
| aluminium | 10,000 | CA$3,500.00 | CA$8,600.00 | +CA$5,100.00 |
| aluminium | 100,000 | CA$35,000.00 | CA$86,000.00 | +CA$51,000.00 |
| steel | 1 | CA$0.71 | CA$0.46 | -CA$0.25 |
| steel | 10 | CA$7.10 | CA$4.60 | -CA$2.50 |
| steel | 100 | CA$71.00 | CA$46.00 | -CA$25.00 |
| steel | 1,000 | CA$710.00 | CA$460.00 | -CA$250.00 |
| steel | 10,000 | CA$7,100.00 | CA$4,600.00 | -CA$2,500.00 |
| steel | 100,000 | CA$71,000.00 | CA$46,000.00 | -CA$25,000.00 |
Both schedules are in CAD, so the figures compare directly.
Saskatchewan: the 2027 fee schedule of SK Recycles, effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
British Columbia: the 2027 fee schedule of Recycle BC, effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
British Columbia 2027: the category “Kraft Paper” is published at 81 cents per kilogram.
British Columbia 2027: the category “Plastic Film” is published at 174 cents per kilogram.
British Columbia 2027: the category “Clear Glass” is published at 61 cents per kilogram.
British Columbia 2027: the category “Aluminum Food & Other Containers” is published at 35 cents per kilogram.
British Columbia 2027: the category “Other Steel Packaging including Paint Cans” is published at 71 cents per kilogram.
Saskatchewan 2027: the category “Boxboard” is published at 31 cents per kilogram.
Saskatchewan 2027: the category “Plastic Film” is published at 113 cents per kilogram.
Saskatchewan 2027: the category “Clear Glass” is published at 30 cents per kilogram.
Saskatchewan 2027: the category “Other Aluminum Packaging” is published at 86 cents per kilogram.
Saskatchewan 2027: the category “Other Steel Packaging incl. Paint Cans” is published at 46 cents per kilogram.
Real packs usually land in a dearer category, so use the calculator for British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Deadlines in British Columbia and Saskatchewan
Each verified date, with the period it covers when one is given.
| Place | Kind | Date | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | report | May 31 | the previous calendar year |
| British Columbia | payment | January 31 | each quarter |
| Saskatchewan | report | May 31 | not yet published |
| Saskatchewan | payment | January 31 | fee year (the calendar year after the reporting year) |
| Saskatchewan | payment | April 30 | fee year (the calendar year after the reporting year) |
| Saskatchewan | payment | July 31 | fee year (the calendar year after the reporting year) |
| Saskatchewan | payment | October 31 | fee year (the calendar year after the reporting year) |
The first annual report date is the same on both sides, May 31.
Penalties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan
What each side has published; a side without an amount says so.
British Columbia penalty for Offence under the Recycling Regulation: up to CA$200,000 per offence.
Report formats in British Columbia and Saskatchewan
How the report file for British Columbia compares with the one for Saskatchewan.
| Aspect | British Columbia | Saskatchewan |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Recycle BC annual supply report Fee-year categories, reviewed 2026-09-29 | SK Recycles annual report Fee-year categories, reviewed 2026-09-29 |
| Recipient | Recycle BC | SK Recycles |
| How it is submitted | Recycle BC steward portal | SK Recycles producer portal |
| 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 | kg |
| 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.
Questions about comparing these two programmes
Is British Columbia or Saskatchewan stricter on packaging EPR?
Both set the lowest revenue exemption at CA$1,000,000. Both set the lowest weight exemption at 1 tonne. Both require producers to register. Both programmes set their first annual report for May 31. British Columbia publishes the higher per-kilogram fee in 4 of 5 shared material classes.
Do I register in both British Columbia and Saskatchewan?
British Columbia requires producers to register. Saskatchewan requires producers to register.
How do the fees per kilogram compare in British Columbia and Saskatchewan?
Across 5 shared material classes, British Columbia publishes the higher cheapest per-kilogram fee in 4, and Saskatchewan 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, British Columbia or Saskatchewan?
The first annual report date is the same on both sides, May 31.
How these figures are made
Sources
- bclaws.gov.bc.ca: 449 2004 retrieved
Original wording: commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $200 000.
Original wording: if the producer is operating under a franchise agreement, the producer, the franchisor and the other parties with whom the franchisor h
Original wording: gross revenue in the most recent calendar year of less than $1 000 000 in British Columbia
Original wording: if subparagraph (i) does not apply, a person who is not the manufacturer of the product but is the owner or licensee of a trademark
Original wording: the producer had a gross revenue in the most recent calendar year of less than $1 000 000 in British Columbia;
Original wording: the producer produced in the most recent calendar year less than one tonne of products within the packaging and paper product category
Original wording: a person sells the product or offers the product for sale by any means, including
- recyclebc.ca: producer faqs retrieved
Original wording: To become a member of the Recycle BC program please visit the WeRecycle Portal and follow the steps to register as a new producer.
Original wording: Recycle BC is the only organization that businesses can join in order to fulfill the requirements of Schedule 5 of the BC Recycling Regulation
Original wording: Companies that do not have residency in BC but ship products directly to BC residents are not obligated under the BC Recycling Regulation
- recyclebc.ca: small business low volume retrieved
Original wording: Eligible stewards supplying 1,000 to 15,000 kg of PPP annually have the option to file simplified report
Original wording: Businesses that have less than $1 million in annual revenues in BC;
Original wording: operate as a single point of retail sale and are not supplied or operated as part of a franchise, a chain or under a banner
Original wording: Are a registered charity.
- recyclebc.ca: fee schedule retrieved
Original wording: Producers are required to file their reports by May 31 each year, and fees are paid quarterly as follows
Original wording: Newsprint 76
- skrecycles.ca: low volume producers retrieved
Original wording: Businesses supplying less than 1,000 kg of packaging and paper annually to Saskatchewan residents are exempt from registration and reporting requirements.
Original wording: Businesses supplying between 1,000 and 5,000 kg of material annually can file a simplified report and pay a flat fee.
- skrecycles.ca: are you a producer retrieved
Original wording: that business is the obligated producer as the brand holder.
Original wording: If a business or organization supplies packaging to consumers in Saskatchewan and is the brand owner resident in Canada
Original wording: Businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue are also exempt.
- skrecycles.ca: reporting resources and guidebook retrieved
Original wording: Producers registered with SK Recycles are required to submit reports on the WeRecycle Portal by May 31
- sk-webmedia-assets-prod-shared-ca-central-1.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com: SK Recycles Membership Agreement Dec11 2024 Final 2 retrieved
Original wording: each such instalment is due on January 31st, April 30th, July 31st and October 31st of the respective Fee Obligation Year
- skrecycles.ca: fees retrieved
Original wording: Newsprint 63
- recyclebc.ca: Recycle BC 2027 Fee Schedule retrieved
Original wording: RECYCLE BC FEE SCHEDULE (CENTS/KG)
Original wording: Kraft Paper * 81.00 77.00 5.2%
Original wording: Plastic Film 174.00 184.00 -5.4%
Original wording: GLASS Clear Glass 61.00 58.00 5.2%
Original wording: ALUMINUM Aluminum Food & Other Containers 35.00 48.00 -27.1%
Original wording: STEEL Other Steel Packaging including Paint cans ** 71.00 68.00 4.4%
- skrecycles.ca: SK Recycles 2027 Fee Schedule retrieved
Original wording: SK RECYCLES FEE SCHEDULE (CENTS/KG)
Original wording: Boxboard 31.00 31.00 0.0%
Original wording: Plastic Film 113.00 119.00 -5.0%
Original wording: GLASS Clear Glass 30.00 31.00 -3.2%
Original wording: Other Aluminum Packaging 86.00 73.00 17.8%
Original wording: STEEL Other Steel Packaging including Paint cans ** 46.00 47.00 -2.1%
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