The Government of New Brunswick has established the Designated Materials Regulation 2024-37 under the Clean Environment Act which introduces a new Extended Producer Responsibility program for batteries in New Brunswick. REGULATION 2024-37, effective July 15, 2024, sets out the requirements for the program.
Battery is defined as “a container that does not exceed 5 kg in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a power source, and includes a single-use or rechargeable battery, but does not include a battery contained in a designated material."
As the agency responsible for designated materials, Recycle NB will oversee the battery program in New Brunswick. Under REGULATION 2024-37, no producer shall sell, offer for sale or distribute a battery to a person in the Province on or after October 31, 2024, unless the producer is registered with Recycle NB.
Producers may choose a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to operate a recycling program for batteries on their behalf. The PRO will be required to submit a stewardship plan for the collection and management of batteries throughout New Brunswick by December 31, 2024.
More details about REGULATION 2024-37 can be found here.