Background
Under the AB Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation (194/2022), the designation of household and special products (HSP) is primarily based on the hazard symbols described in the Consumer Chemical and Containers Regulation (SOR/2001-269) for Flammables, Corrosives, and Toxics, and on the Pest Control Products Regulations (SOR/2006-124) for Domestic Pesticides (Danger/Warning and corresponding precautionary symbols), along with container size restrictions and some specific exemptions under each of the HSP categories. HSP is a subset of household hazardous waste (HHW) that communities collect. Many communities have decided to co-collect HSP and HHW in the same collection container.
Annual lab-pack sampling studies are conducted to establish the commingled share of HSP compared to HHW, for the following calendar year, for communities that have commingle collections.
2025 lab-pack sampling
In February 2025, a lab-pack sampling study was undertaken to help inform and facilitate the allocation between non-HSP HHW and HSP products within the commingle system for 2025. Product Care is also committed to conducting a more robust lab-pack study in the fall of 2025 to inform the allocation for 2026. In the spirit of transparency and collaboration, communities were invited to attend and observe the sampling process in Lethbridge on October 7th and Red Deer on October 8th. Six community representatives attended and observed the two-day sampling event.
A lab-pack study was conducted at two current HHW service providers’ facilities, DBS Environmental in Lethbridge and EnviroSORT Inc. (a subsidiary of Clean Harbors Canada Inc.) in Red Deer. The sampling protocol followed the same process as the spring lab-pack sampling, but with almost double the sample size, providing a more robust result.
Results
HSP collections by communities are either segregated by Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) class or consolidated.
The spring 2025 lab-pack results were as follows:
| Collection type | Spring 2025 |
| For consolidated collections | 20.0% |
| For segregated collections by TDG | |
| Flammables | 23.1% |
| Toxics & Domestic Pesticides | 3.2% |
| Corrosives | 26.3% |
| Aerosol | 32.6% |
The October 2025 lab-pack results were lower than the spring 2025 results. Due to the nature of sampling and recognizing that there is inherent variability with sampling, combined with the spirit of collaborating and partnership, Product Care would like to collect data over three lab-pack sampling studies to smooth out variability, with the objective of establishing a more robust rate. As a result, Product Care will hold the current rate (above rates) for 2026 and transition to a blended rate in 2027 once the third lab-pack study has been completed.
Non-HSP HHW content
The chart below provides details on the composition of non-HSP HHW found in the sampled HHW collection containers.
Product Care acknowledges and thanks Clean Harbors and DBS Environmental for their collaboration and support on the lab-pack sampling study. In addition, we thank participating community members for attending and observing the study and communities that have partnered with Product Care to provide collection services.
Product Care will be conducting another lab-pack study in 2026. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Product Care at alberta@productcare.org.