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EPR REPORT CARD 2011
11
Canada’s Territories
The CCME’s Canada-wide Action Plan (CAP) for Extended Producer Responsibility recognizes
the “unique local and regional circumstances” that exist in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories
and the Yukon, including the potential cost barriers to fund northern EPR programs. Because
of the low population density associated with this region, successful application of EPR will be
greatly facilitated by the adoption of harmonized EPR frameworks from neighbouring prov-
inces. CAP also suggests that “EPR may not be an appropriate instrument for all products or
product categories in the North”.
As a result of the unique challenges faced by the territories, EPR Canada has chosen not to
score these jurisdictions for this year’s Report Card. As EPR advances throughout the country,
it is anticipated that the territories will progress to the stage where scoring may be appropriate.
Meanwhile, the territories have moved forward with a number of initiatives and programs
related to EPR, as outlined below.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories (NWT) operates two regulated recycling programs that share some
characteristics of EPR programs. The beverage container program is one of only two in Canada
to include milk containers. The single-use retail bag program, a source-reduction initiative that
aims to change consumer behaviour, is the only one of its kind to be implemented at the pro-
vincial or territorial level in Canada. Although there is no clear commitment to EPR, it is stated
as a key consideration in program development.
Programs are subject to independent third-party financial audits, and a third-party review
was conducted of the beverage container program. All reports are publicly available online.
NWT has dedicated significant resources to waste reduction, and continues to look for
innovative solutions, despite geographic challenges.