Canada 2027 EPR Fees by Province, Explained

Written by

Erika Mallery

•

Published on

October 30, 2026

Canada's 2027 EPR fees are going up in most provinces.

On October 15, 2026, five producer responsibility organizations (PROs), Circular Materials, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), Recycle Manitoba, SK Recycles and Recycle BC, shared 2027 budgets and fee rates at the Annual Producer Meeting. Ontario's fees weren't disclosed.

The short version: per-kg rates increase in Manitoba (+14.5%), Yukon (+10.1%), New Brunswick (+4.5%) and Nova Scotia (+3%). In Québec, the average fee rate rises 18% and average invoices about 11%. Alberta and Saskatchewan’s average rates are unchanged, but individual material rates still move. In Alberta, they range from about -18% to +23% by material. Most programs are drawing on reserve funds to keep increases down.

Most 2027 schedules are now published. PROs note that fees can still be revised, so treat them as a planning number, not a final invoice. New to Canada EPR? Start with Canada EPR for packaging: what brands need to know before 2027.

What are Canada's 2027 EPR fees by province?

Two numbers matter here. The average fee rate is roughly what you pay per kilogram of packaging. The program budget is the total cost of running recycling in that province, which brands share.

Province	2027 average fee rate	Program budget change vs. 2026	What's behind it
Manitoba	$0.33/kg (+14.5%)	+13.2% ($28M)	Fees rise for all materials, driven by higher collection costs, a change in how municipal costs are funded, and lower material revenue. A move to full EPR is still awaiting provincial approval.
Québec (ÉEQ)	+18% (average invoices +11%)	−3% (~$468M)	Deposit system expansion moves glass and cartons out of the program, so less packaging shares the cost
Yukon	$2.50/kg (+10.1%)	-7.0% ($4.4M)	Less packaging supplied; Phase 2 expansion delayed to January 2029
New Brunswick	$0.92/kg (+4.5%)	+3.4% ($51.6M)	Reserve funds used to soften the increase
Nova Scotia	$1.02/kg (+3%)	+3.4% (~$51.6M)	The budget assumes a new Halifax pre-conditioning facility, serving NS and NB, starts in June 2027.
Alberta	$0.83/kg (no change)	+5.1% ($195.4M)	More packaging reported, plus reserve funds, keeps rates steady
Saskatchewan	No change	+0.8% ($31.1M)	$8.5M from reserves; Phase 3 of the move to full EPR begins
British Columbia	$.82/kg (+1.4%)	+1.7% ($203.1M)	$6.2M from reserves; 78.5% recovery rate in 2025
Ontario	Not disclosed	Not disclosed	Each of Ontario's four PROs shares fees directly with its own producers

All figures in CAD, as presented by the PROs on October 15, 2026. Your actual bill depends on your packaging mix, since each category has its own rate. For each program's full presentation, see the WeRecycle Annual Producer Meetings page. PROs caution that fees aren’t directly comparable between programs.

What else is changing for Canada EPR?

Beyond fees, the PROs shared updates that affect brands selling in Canada:

EPR keeps expanding. Nova Scotia and Yukon launched programs in late 2025, Ontario moved to full EPR in January 2026, and Alberta launched Phase 2 on October 1, 2026.
One set of reporting categories. All five PROs agreed on common reporting categories. Starting January 1, 2027, packaging is reported under the same categories across Canada, beginning with the 2027 annual supply reports. Here's what that means for your data.
Canada-wide design guidelines. Canada’s packaging PROs are publishing shared design-for-recyclability guidelines in Q1 2027, giving brands one reference for designing more recyclable packaging across provinces.
Canadian How2Recycle labels. The PROs are working with GreenBlue, the nonprofit behind How2Recycle, on voluntary, bilingual recycling labels built for Canada. The labels will draw on Canadian recycling data so residents receive more consistent instructions. Timing hasn’t been announced yet.

How should brands budget for 2027 Canada EPR fees?

Budget for increases in most provinces. Six of the eight programs that published rates are raising their average rate. If you sell in Québec, Manitoba or Yukon, flag it with finance now. Although rates rise, ÉEQ expects producers’ total 2027 costs to be well below 2026, which also included final payments under the old compensation system.

Your category mix matters more than the average. These are average rates. From January 2027, you report your packaging in 62 harmonized categories. Fee schedules switch to those categories in 2028, so any cost impact shows up in 2028 fees.

More change is coming for 2028. The cost-allocation review is presented to producers in November 2026 and finishes in January 2027. It changes how costs are split between materials (outside Québec) and will shape 2028 fees, announced at the 2027 meeting. It won't change the total cost of the system, but it will move costs between categories in 2028.

Plan for steady increases after 2027. Most programs are using reserve funds to keep 2027 increases down, even as costs rise from expanded collection, new facilities and economic pressure. Forecasts vary widely. Saskatchewan and Manitoba project 2028 cost increases of roughly 31% and 40% as communities move to full EPR. ÉEQ projects flat costs in 2028.

FAQ

Why are some 2027 EPR fees going up when program budgets went down? Because the cost is split across less packaging. In Québec, the deposit system expands in March 2027 to more glass bottles and drink cartons. In other words, shoppers can return those containers for a refund, so they leave the recycling program brands pay for, taking about 18% of its packaging (by weight) with them. The budget fell 3%, but the average fee rate rises 18% and average invoices about 11%. Additionally, ÉEQ limited the increase for PET, the clear plastic used in many bottles and food containers, to 20%. In Yukon, the amount of packaging brands supply shrank by about 15.5%, so the rate increases even with a smaller budget.

Does Alberta charge a second EPR fee? Yes. On top of the PRO fee, Alberta brands pay a separate oversight fee to ARMA, the provincial regulator. Alberta's PRO rate holds at $0.83/kg for 2027.

Are the 2027 Canada EPR fees final? Not yet. These rates were set by the PROs and are directional. Final schedules are posting to the Circular Materials producer guide.

When are 2027 Canada EPR fees paid? 2027 fees are based on the report you filed by May 31, 2026 (covering 2025 supply)). Invoices go out in January 2027, payable annually or quarterly. The report due May 31, 2027 (covering 2026 supply) sets your 2028 fees.

What are Ontario's 2027 EPR fees? They aren't public. Ontario has four competing PROs: Circular Materials, EnvironFocus, Landbell Canada and Ryse Solutions. Each shares its fees directly with its own producers instead of presenting them publicly.

How are Canada EPR fees calculated? Each program sets a yearly budget, then splits it across materials based on how much each one adds to the cost of running the system. ÉEQ in Québec uses its own three-factor model. Your fee is generally weight × the per-kg rate for each category, summed across every category you report. Some provinces add a regulator fee on top.

Next Steps

Forecast your 2027 Canada costs before the invoice lands. rePurpose centralizes your packaging supply data, applies each program’s published 2027 fee schedules, and keeps you current on changes across Canada’s packaging EPR programs. Talk to our team to learn more.

Getting ready to report? Download the 2027 Canada EPR Checklist.

Sources

Canadian PROs. “2026 Report to Producers.” Annual Producer Meeting, October 15, 2026.
WeRecycle Producer Guide. “Annual Producer Meetings & Fee Consultations.” Accessed October 30, 2026.
WeRecycle Producer Guide. “Fees.” Accessed October 30, 2026.
WeRecycle Producer Guide. “Overview of Reporting and Fee Obligations by Province.” Accessed October 30, 2026.
Recycle BC. “Fee Schedule.” Accessed October 30, 2026.
Recycle Manitoba. “Registration, Reporting and Fees for Producers.” Accessed October 30, 2026.

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