EPIC has introduced a new report that details current levels of plastic recycling access for Canadians across the country. The report is a follow up on a similar study that was published in January 2005. The newer version has the addition of several more types of household plastic packaging, including PET thermoform, HDPE pails over 5L, garden rigid plastic (horticultural products), and more categories of polystyrene packaging (expanded polystyrene for food, for packaging and crystal polystyrene).

The new report clearly demonstrates a significant increase in the number of people across the country who have access to recycling various types of plastic packaging through their local recycling programs (curbside or depot). The most significant increases have occurred in non-beverage bottles and tubs and lids. In the 2005 study, for example, 56 per cent of Canadians had access to recycling tubs and lids. In the new report, that number has jumped to 88 per cent.

EPIC is committed to further increasing the recycling of plastic products across Canada and is interested in working with municipalities to promote greater household participation and increased capture rates of plastic packaging.

A comparison of the two reports shows that aside from PET beverage bottles (which recorded a Canadian access percentage of 98 in the first report), there have been significant increases made in providing Canadians with greater access to recycling their plastic packaging.

*This % does not include the many retailers that now offer in-store plastic bag recycling progams.

The following demonstrates the percentage of the population with access to recycling the new types of plastics that have been added in the latest report.

The new report, Estimates of Levels of Residential Recycling Access for Plastic Packaging in Canada, is available for downloading by clicking here.

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