Processing Facilities

What is a Processing Facility in EPR?

A processing facility is an individual or entity responsible for processing designated materials supplied to consumers in Alberta for resource recovery purposes. These recovered materials can then be reintroduced to the circular economy to make new products for future use. 

Processing facilities collaborate with producers or Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) operating on their behalf. Producers and PROs are mandated to establish and operate a collection and management system for designated materials. For resource recovery, processing encompasses a range of activities, including but not limited to: 

• Sorting 
• Baling paper and cardboard shredding 
• Plastic reprocessing, including grinding, washing, pelletizing, compounding, etc. 
• Crushed glass reprocessing 
• Aluminum and steel reprocessing

Processing Facility Obligations

Under the EPR Regulation, processing facilities that wish to participate in the common collection system must register with ARMA. Producers and PROs can only engage with processing facilities registered with ARMA. 

Processing facilities responsible for processing designated materials supplied to consumers in Alberta for personal, family, or household use are required to register with ARMA through ARMA Connect.

A processing facility must provide ARMA with the following information: 

1. The name, contact information and address of the processing facility; 
2. The name and contact information of the person responsible for registering the processing facility; 
3. The designated materials accepted at the processing facility; 
4. The type of processing that is undertaken by the processing facility; and 
5. Any other information about the processing facility required by ARMA.

A processing facility must not be affiliated with any PRO. 

Annual Reporting

Starting in 2025, processing facilities are obligated to submit an annual performance report that provides details of their recovery and management activities in the previous calendar year. 

Processing facilities are required to log into their registry account annually and report the following information: 

• Weight of designated materials received 
• Identification of the processing methods employed 
• Weight of processed materials data 
• Weight of designated materials received and not processed 
• The weight of processed material outputs 
• Data related to the disposal of processed materials 
• Information regarding products and packaging derived from these materials 

Processing facilities will be required to submit Management Reports starting in 2027. Reporting information and guidance documents will be made available in 2026. For reference, general reporting requirements for processing facilities are outlined in our bylaws.