On October 27, 2025, the Government of British Columbia approved amendments to the Recycling Regulation under the Environmental Management Act.
The amendments to the regulation introduce new product categories, make minor changes to clarify regulatory language, and advance actions identified in the Ministry of Environment and Parks’ Extended Producer Responsibility Five-Year Action Plan.
The new and amended product categories are as follows:
Newly regulated moderate-risk product categories include:
Automotive products: Includes fluids, gels, greases, waxes, creams, and aerosols designed for use in the maintenance or repair of a motor vehicle;
Battery-containing products: Includes clothing, electronic cigarettes, generators, and power stations;
Canister products: Includes aerosols, single-use fuels, bear spray, sealants, adhesives, CO2 canisters for beverages, fire extinguishers, and propane tanks up to 100 pounds;
Electronic and electrical signs and decorations;
Large 12-volt consumer batteries; and Medical sharps used at home.
Hazardous Waste Regulation updates include a revised definition of “e-waste” and future amendments to support safe disposal of medical sharps and lead-acid batteries.
Mattresses are not being regulated at this time due to affordability concerns, though this may be revisited in future regulatory cycles.
Implementation timeline:
New product categories will be introduced in phases to allow sufficient time to submit EPR plans to the BCMoEP for approval:
- Programs for automotive products, canister products, and medical sharps: early 2027
- Programs for electronics, battery-containing products, and large batteries: later in 2027
The official amendment (Order in Council OIC 476/2025) provides full details. Please note that it may take time for these changes to appear in the online version of the Recycling Regulation.
Other key regulatory updates:
Beyond the addition of new product categories, several important regulatory changes were introduced that may affect producer obligations and EPR plan requirements. Key updates include (but are not limited to):
- Producer definition expanded: The definition of “producer” now explicitly includes sales made online, by phone, or by mail. Importers who bring products into B.C. for use, sale, or distribution are also defined as producers.
- Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs): The regulation now requires that a PRO must be a not-for-profit corporation.
- Part 3 (“Individual Producer Responsibility Plans”) was repealed. This removes the option for producers to operate stand-alone plans. Practically, all producers must now join a PRO (like Product Care) to meet their obligations.
- Public consultation requirements: EPR plan submissions must now involve interested parties and the public, broadening the previous stakeholder engagement requirements.
Next steps:
Product Care is conducting a detailed review of the amendments to evaluate potential impacts on current and future program plans.
For direct questions to the BCMoEP, contact: ExtendedProducerResponsibility@gov.bc.ca.
You can also contact the Product Care team at: bcpaintrecycle@productcare.org.