Plastics Recycling: Definitions, Reporting, and Measuring

There is no consistent definition of recycling in Canada. Many of the definitions in current usage include a long list of possible activities (e.g., collecting, transporting, handling, storing, disassembling, dismantling, sorting, separating, shredding, processing, remanufacturing) that create confusion about which step constitutes “recycling” and whether “recycling” has occurred at the completion of any step. A clear definition of recycling is important to both public policymakers that are seeking to achieve specific environmental outcomes associated with recycling of materials and to the regulated community that must deliver them. It is also of importance to the plastics recycling sector as it will determine plastics collection, sorting, and recycling supply chain design and attendant infrastructure investments towards driving a circular economy for plastics in Canada. As such, the purpose of this standard is to set a definition of recycling. This standard will provide the industry with a national accepted set of definitions of recycling and will lead to standards based solutions, as well as consistent requirements and guidance for reporting of recycled content.