New Brunswick vs Nova Scotia EPR: Rules Compared
Last verified
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia both run packaging EPR, but the rules differ. Nova Scotia exempts only producers below the lower revenue floor, CA$1,000,000 against CA$2,000,000 in New Brunswick. Both set the lowest weight exemption at 1 tonne. Nova Scotia asks for its first annual report earlier, on April 30 against May 31 in New Brunswick.
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia side by side
5 of 9 rows have a verified figure on each side of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia; 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 | New Brunswick | Nova Scotia | Stricter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration duty | Required | not yet published | Not comparable |
| Producer organisation | one producer responsibility organisation | one producer responsibility organisation | Not comparable |
| Lowest revenue exemption | CA$2,000,000 | CA$1,000,000 | Nova Scotia |
| Lowest weight exemption | 1 tonne | 1 tonne | Same |
| First annual report date | May 31 | April 30 | Nova Scotia |
| Published penalties | not yet published | not yet published | Not comparable |
| Report file | csv | csv | Not comparable |
| Paper fee, cheapest matched rate | 68 cents per kilogram | 75 cents per kilogram | Nova Scotia |
| Plastic fee, cheapest matched rate | 195 cents per kilogram | 217 cents per kilogram | Nova Scotia |
The lowest revenue exemption is CA$2,000,000 in New Brunswick and CA$1,000,000 in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia therefore reaches smaller sellers: a business with revenue between the two lines is exempt in New Brunswick but still in scope in Nova Scotia.
The lowest weight exemption is the same on both sides: 1 tonne of packaging.
The earliest annual report date is May 31 in New Brunswick and April 30 in Nova Scotia, 31 days apart. Nova Scotia leaves less time to prepare, so its data has to be ready first.
Across 5 shared material classes, Nova Scotia publishes the higher cheapest per-kilogram fee in 4, and New Brunswick in 0. 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 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Who collects and who the producer files with, in New Brunswick and then Nova Scotia.
| Aspect | New Brunswick | Nova Scotia |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | Designated Materials Regulation, N.B. Reg. 2024-37 (Clean Environment Act) | Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, Part IX (packaging and paper EPR regulations) |
| Regulator | Recycle New Brunswick (stewardship board) | Resource Recovery Fund Board (Divert NS), as Administrator |
| Producers obligated | Yes | Yes |
| Registration | Required, Recycle New Brunswick (stewardship board) | not yet published |
| Producer organisation | one producer responsibility organisation: Circular Materials; membership required | one producer responsibility organisation: Circular Materials; membership optional |
| Transfer of responsibility | Allowed | Allowed |
| Revenue counted as | gross revenue inside the jurisdiction, CAD, year | gross revenue inside the jurisdiction, CAD, year |
| Who counts as the producer | other: brand owner, importer, seller, online marketplace; primary: brand owner, importer, seller, online marketplace; secondary: brand owner, importer, seller, online marketplace; service: brand owner, importer, seller, online marketplace; shipping: brand owner, importer, seller, online marketplace; tertiary: brand owner, importer, seller, online marketplace | 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 New Brunswick and Nova Scotia therefore sit in thresholds, fees, dates and report formats rather than in whom a producer deals with.
What New Brunswick and Nova Scotia cover, side by side
Each row below is one published feature of the two programmes; a cell reads “not yet published” when New Brunswick or Nova Scotia has no verified entry for it in the dataset.
| Aspect | New Brunswick | Nova Scotia |
|---|---|---|
| Materials covered | paper, plastic, metal, glass, printed paper, packaging | paper, plastic, metal, glass, printed paper, packaging |
| Product classes covered | packaging, paper products | packaging, paper products |
| Excluded from scope | small producers | small producers |
| Sales channels addressed | retail, online, distance sale | retail, online, distance sale |
| Producer duty: primary packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller; marketplace | brand_owner; importer; seller |
| Producer duty: secondary packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller; marketplace | brand_owner; importer; seller |
| Producer duty: tertiary packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller; marketplace | brand_owner; importer; seller |
| Producer duty: shipping packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller; marketplace | not yet published |
| Producer duty: service packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller; marketplace | not yet published |
| Producer duty: other packaging | brand_owner; importer; seller; marketplace | not yet published |
| Reporting categories | 36, material category | 33, material category |
| Exemption 1 | Under CAD 2,000,000 NB revenue, under one tonne, or a registered charity | Small producers and societies (except educational) are exempt |
Thresholds and exemptions in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Every verified threshold New Brunswick and Nova Scotia publish, as each states it.
| Place | Measure | Amount | Effect | Basis as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | revenue | CA$2,000,000 | exempt below | gross annual New Brunswick revenue |
| New Brunswick | packaging tonnage | 1 tonne | exempt below | packaging and paper per year |
| Nova Scotia | revenue | CA$1,000,000 | exempt below | gross Nova Scotia revenue |
| Nova Scotia | packaging tonnage | 1 tonne | exempt below | designated material supplied in the Province |
New Brunswick exemption: Under CAD 2,000,000 NB revenue, under one tonne, or a registered charity It does not have to be applied for.
Nova Scotia exemption: Small producers and societies (except educational) are exempt 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$2,000,000 in New Brunswick and CA$1,000,000 in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia therefore reaches smaller sellers: a business with revenue between the two lines is exempt in New Brunswick but still in scope in Nova Scotia.
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 | New Brunswick (CAD per kg) | Nova Scotia (CAD per kg) | Higher fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 68 cents per kilogram | 75 cents per kilogram | Nova Scotia |
| plastic | 195 cents per kilogram | 217 cents per kilogram | Nova Scotia |
| glass | 47 cents per kilogram | 53 cents per kilogram | Nova Scotia |
| aluminium | 100 cents per kilogram | 100 cents per kilogram | Same |
| steel | 83 cents per kilogram | 90 cents per kilogram | Nova Scotia |
Scaling the cheapest published rate by weight shows what the gap between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia amounts to for a given tonnage of one material. The amounts are the rate times the weight, nothing added.
| Material class | Kilograms | New Brunswick fee (CAD) | Nova Scotia fee (CAD) | Nova Scotia minus New Brunswick (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| paper and board | 1 | CA$0.68 | CA$0.75 | +CA$0.07 |
| paper and board | 10 | CA$6.80 | CA$7.50 | +CA$0.70 |
| paper and board | 100 | CA$68.00 | CA$75.00 | +CA$7.00 |
| paper and board | 1,000 | CA$680.00 | CA$750.00 | +CA$70.00 |
| paper and board | 10,000 | CA$6,800.00 | CA$7,500.00 | +CA$700.00 |
| paper and board | 100,000 | CA$68,000.00 | CA$75,000.00 | +CA$7,000.00 |
| plastic | 1 | CA$1.95 | CA$2.17 | +CA$0.22 |
| plastic | 10 | CA$19.50 | CA$21.70 | +CA$2.20 |
| plastic | 100 | CA$195.00 | CA$217.00 | +CA$22.00 |
| plastic | 1,000 | CA$1,950.00 | CA$2,170.00 | +CA$220.00 |
| plastic | 10,000 | CA$19,500.00 | CA$21,700.00 | +CA$2,200.00 |
| plastic | 100,000 | CA$195,000.00 | CA$217,000.00 | +CA$22,000.00 |
| glass | 1 | CA$0.47 | CA$0.53 | +CA$0.06 |
| glass | 10 | CA$4.70 | CA$5.30 | +CA$0.60 |
| glass | 100 | CA$47.00 | CA$53.00 | +CA$6.00 |
| glass | 1,000 | CA$470.00 | CA$530.00 | +CA$60.00 |
| glass | 10,000 | CA$4,700.00 | CA$5,300.00 | +CA$600.00 |
| glass | 100,000 | CA$47,000.00 | CA$53,000.00 | +CA$6,000.00 |
| aluminium | 1 | CA$1.00 | CA$1.00 | CA$0.00 |
| aluminium | 10 | CA$10.00 | CA$10.00 | CA$0.00 |
| aluminium | 100 | CA$100.00 | CA$100.00 | CA$0.00 |
| aluminium | 1,000 | CA$1,000.00 | CA$1,000.00 | CA$0.00 |
| aluminium | 10,000 | CA$10,000.00 | CA$10,000.00 | CA$0.00 |
| aluminium | 100,000 | CA$100,000.00 | CA$100,000.00 | CA$0.00 |
| steel | 1 | CA$0.83 | CA$0.90 | +CA$0.07 |
| steel | 10 | CA$8.30 | CA$9.00 | +CA$0.70 |
| steel | 100 | CA$83.00 | CA$90.00 | +CA$7.00 |
| steel | 1,000 | CA$830.00 | CA$900.00 | +CA$70.00 |
| steel | 10,000 | CA$8,300.00 | CA$9,000.00 | +CA$700.00 |
| steel | 100,000 | CA$83,000.00 | CA$90,000.00 | +CA$7,000.00 |
Both schedules are in CAD, so the figures compare directly.
Nova Scotia: the 2027 fee schedule of Circular Materials Nova Scotia, effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
New Brunswick: the 2027 fee schedule of Circular Materials New Brunswick (Recycle NB), effective January 1, 2027, is the source of the per-kilogram rates used on this page.
New Brunswick 2027: the category “Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging” is published at 68 cents per kilogram.
New Brunswick 2027: the category “LDPE/HDPE Film” is published at 195 cents per kilogram.
New Brunswick 2027: the category “Clear Glass” is published at 47 cents per kilogram.
New Brunswick 2027: the category “Aluminum Food Containers” is published at 100 cents per kilogram.
New Brunswick 2027: the category “Other Steel Containers and Packaging” is published at 83 cents per kilogram.
Nova Scotia 2027: the category “Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging” is published at 75 cents per kilogram.
Nova Scotia 2027: the category “LDPE/HDPE Film” is published at 217 cents per kilogram.
Nova Scotia 2027: the category “Clear Glass” is published at 53 cents per kilogram.
Nova Scotia 2027: the category “Aluminum Food Containers” is published at 100 cents per kilogram.
Nova Scotia 2027: the category “Other Steel Containers and Packaging” is published at 90 cents per kilogram.
Real packs usually land in a dearer category, so use the calculator for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Deadlines in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Each verified date, with the period it covers when one is given.
| Place | Kind | Date | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | report | May 31 | the previous calendar year |
| New Brunswick | registration | June 30, 2025 | not yet published |
| New Brunswick | plan | June 30, 2025 | not yet published |
| Nova Scotia | report | May 31 | calendar year before the year the report is due (s 29(4)) |
| Nova Scotia | report | April 30, 2030 | the 4 immediately preceding years |
| Nova Scotia | payment | October 1, 2026 | 2026 Divert NS EPR oversight fees |
| Nova Scotia | registration | January 1, 2024 | not yet published |
The earliest annual report date is May 31 in New Brunswick and April 30 in Nova Scotia, 31 days apart. Nova Scotia leaves less time to prepare, so its data has to be ready first.
Penalties in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
What each side has published; a side without an amount says so.
Report formats in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
How the report file for New Brunswick compares with the one for Nova Scotia.
| Aspect | New Brunswick | Nova Scotia |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | New Brunswick producer annual report Fee-year categories, reviewed 2026-09-29 | Nova Scotia producer annual report Fee-year categories, reviewed 2026-09-29 |
| Recipient | Recycle NB / Circular Materials | Resource Recovery Fund Board (Divert NS) / Circular Materials |
| How it is submitted | WeRecycle Portal | WeRecycle 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.
Which to plan for first, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia
Plan around the earlier report date first. Nova Scotia asks for its first annual report on April 30, before New Brunswick, so its data has to be ready first.
Check the exemption thresholds before anything else. Nova Scotia reaches smaller sellers than New Brunswick, so a seller that is exempt in New Brunswick may still have to register in Nova Scotia.
Questions about comparing these two programmes
Is New Brunswick or Nova Scotia stricter on packaging EPR?
Nova Scotia exempts only producers below the lower revenue floor, CA$1,000,000 against CA$2,000,000 in New Brunswick. Both set the lowest weight exemption at 1 tonne. Nova Scotia asks for its first annual report earlier, on April 30 against May 31 in New Brunswick. Nova Scotia publishes the higher per-kilogram fee in 4 of 5 shared material classes.
Do I register in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia?
New Brunswick requires producers to register. Nova Scotia has not yet published its registration duty.
How do the fees per kilogram compare in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia?
Across 5 shared material classes, Nova Scotia publishes the higher cheapest per-kilogram fee in 4, and New Brunswick in 0. A higher fee is not the same as a stricter rule; it is simply a larger published number per kilogram.
Which deadline comes first, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia?
The earliest annual report date is May 31 in New Brunswick and April 30 in Nova Scotia, 31 days apart. Nova Scotia leaves less time to prepare, so its data has to be ready first.
How these figures are made
Sources
- laws.gnb.ca: 2024 37 retrieved
Original wording: This Regulation may be cited as the Designated Materials Regulation – Clean Environment Act
Original wording: The stewardship board established by the Minister under section 22.1 of the Act, to be known as Recycle New Brunswick, is continued.
Original wording: the producer generates less than $2,000,000 in gross annual revenue in the Province;
Original wording: An application for registration shall be submitted on a form provided by the stewardship board
Original wording: On or before May 31 in each year, a producer shall submit an annual report to the stewardship board
Original wording: the brand holder of the designated material if the brand holder has a permanent establishment in Canada;
Original wording: the producer manufactures, distributes, sells or offers for sale less than one tonne of packaging and paper annually in the Province; or
Original wording: A producer who was not a brand owner shall submit an application for registration referred to in section 16 no later than June 30, 2025.
Original wording: a stewardship plan under this Regulation, including the performance measures and targets referred to in section 44 , no later than June 30, 2025.
- circularmaterials.ca: Circular Materials Report to Producers 2025 retrieved
Original wording: Newspapers 74 80 -7.5%
Original wording: Newspapers 82
- novascotia.ca: envpppextproducer retrieved
Original wording: For the purposes of these regulations, the implementation date is December 1, 2025.
Original wording: the Resource Recovery Fund Board established under Section 98 of the Act
Original wording: A producer may designate a producer responsibility organization to operate on its
Original wording: the producer for the purposes of
Original wording: “small producer” means
Original wording: the brand holder of the designated material, if the brand holder is a resident
Original wording: “small producer” means (i) a producer whose gross annual revenue in the Province is less than $1 000 000
Original wording: a producer who supplies less than 1 tonne of designated material in
Original wording: a small producer.
Original wording: On or before May 31 in each year beginning in 2027, a producer of designated material supplied to consumers in the Province must submit
Original wording: On or before April 30, 2030, and every 4th year afterward, a producer must have its practices and procedures respecting Part V
Original wording: but no later than January 1, 2024, every producer must register in the form and manner required by the Administrator.
- divertns.ca: epr oversight fees retrieved
Original wording: Producers will receive an email on October 1, 2026, advising that EPR Oversight Invoices are available in the EPR Portal.
- knowledge.werecycle.ca: Report to Producers 2026 OCT15 retrieved
Original wording: Circular Materials in New Brunswick Fee Schedule (Cents/Kg)
Original wording: Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging 68 65 4.6%
Original wording: LDPE/HDPE Film 195 187 4.3%
Original wording: Clear Glass 47 46 2.2%
Original wording: Aluminum Food Containers 100 93 7.5 %
Original wording: Other Steel Containers and Packaging 83 82 1.2%
Original wording: Circular Materials in Nova Scotia Fee Schedule (Cents/Kg)
Original wording: Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging 75 74 1.4%
Original wording: LDPE/HDPE Film 217 212 2.4%
Original wording: Clear Glass 53 51 3.9%
Original wording: Aluminum Food Containers 100 104 -3.8%
Original wording: Other Steel Containers and Packaging 90 91 -1.1%
The free plan is enough to start. We estimate and prepare; you sign and submit.