Beverage Container Program

Beverage Container Program

Beverage Container Program Overview

The Government of New Brunswick established an Extended Producer Responsibility program for beverage containers in 2023. Designated Materials Regulation 2008-54 under the Clean Environment Act sets out the requirements for the program.

As the agency responsible for designated materials in New Brunswick, Recycle NB oversees the beverage container program.

As per the Regulation, brand owners are obligated to submit a stewardship plan for the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, recycling, disposal or other handling of beverage containers that are sold, offered for sale or distributed in New Brunswick. Brand owners chose Encorp Atlantic as the Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to operate the program on their behalf. A stewardship plan has been approved by Recycle NB.

On July 14, 2024, the Government of New Brunswick introduced Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act, repealing the previous Regulation. New definitions for obligated producers are in effect. Please note that brand owners shall remain bound by Regulation 2008-54 until December 31, 2025, as though that Regulation had not been repealed. For more information, please review Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 or contact Recycle NB at info@recyclenb.com or 1-506-454-8473.


Brand Owners

According to Designated Materials Regulation 2008-54 under the Clean Environment Act, all brand owners who wish to sell, offer for sale or distribute beverage containers to a person in the Province must register with Recycle NB.

Regulation 2008-54 defines a brand owner as a person who:

(i) is a manufacturer of beverage containers,
(ii) is a distributor of beverage containers,
(iii) is an owner or licensee of a registered or unregistered trademark under which beverage containers are sold, offered for sale or distributed, or
(iv) if beverage containers are imported into the Province, is the first person to sell the beverage containers.

On July 14, 2024, the Government of New Brunswick introduced Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act, repealing the previous Regulation. New definitions for obligated producers are in effect. Please note that brand owners shall remain bound by Regulation 2008-54 until December 31, 2025, as though that Regulation had not been repealed. For more information, please review Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 or contact Recycle NB at info@recyclenb.com or 1-506-454-8473.

Fees

According to Section 50.98 of the Designated Materials Regulation:

50.98(1) Subject to subsection (2), on or after April 1, 2024, a brand owner or a retailer, on behalf of a brand owner, may recover from the consumer costs associated with implementing or operating a beverage containers stewardship plan or costs associated with supplying material under section 50.971.

50.98(2)A brand owner or a retailer who recovers costs under subsection (1) shall integrate those costs:

(a) into a total advertised sales price of a beverage container, and
(b) into the sales price of the beverage container on the receipt of sale.

50.98(3)A brand owner or a retailer is not prohibited from informing the public that the price of a beverage container includes costs recovered under subsection (1) and communicating those costs to the public.

Please review the Fee Display and Advertising Examples to ensure you comply with the Designated Materials Regulation.

Stewardship Plan

A stewardship plan shall apply to the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, recycling, disposal or other handling of beverage containers that are sold, offered for sale or distributed within the province. Please see the approved stewardship plan for full details.

On July 14, 2024, the Government of New Brunswick introduced Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act, repealing the previous Regulation. Due to transitional provisions set in Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37, the above stewardship plan is set to expire on December 31, 2025, and a new stewardship plan must be submitted by producers on June 30, 2025. For more information, please review Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 or contact Recycle NB at info@recyclenb.com or 1-506-454-8473.