About the Research Report

The 2024 Progress Report reveals that the overall recycling is at 16% for plastic packaging in Canada—from Deposit Return Systems (DRSs), Residential Systems, and Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Sectors (ICI), according to the most reliable data from 2022. This update not only establishes a new baseline for plastics packaging nationwide but also sheds light on the gradual progress made since our best estimates from 2019.

This report demonstrates that we are making progress, with CPP and its Partners leading efforts to reshape the landscape by reducing reliance on virgin plastic, redesigning packaging for recyclability, and increasing the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.

What’s Inside:

• Updated data on plastic packaging generation and recycling rates since 2019.
  Recycling performance by waste stream: Deposit Return Systems (60%), Residential Systems (16%), and ICI sector (11%).
• Analysis of barriers and opportunities to improve recycling in ICI sector.
• Progress and ongoing challenges in flexible plastics recycling.
• Anticipated impacts of policy shifts, including EPR expansion and Deposit Return System improvements.
• Insights on strengthening data collection and transparency across the plastics value chain.

This report was researched and written by Policy Integrity, Avaanz, Lichens, and JTL Squared Consulting and led by the Canada Plastics Pact’s Data & Reporting Working Group.

Access the reports by visiting Canada Plastics Pact.