This national standard will allow a common framework and consistent definitions for plastics recycling across Canada.
Plastic Manufacturing. UpKeep.
A new recycling standard in Canada that targets all non-biodegradable plastics for all plastic products and packaging has been drafted. The new standard defines how and when these items are determined to be recycled.
The CSA Group determined that for materials to be considered recycled, the end result must be a new plastic product.
But what does this mean, is it needed, and why does it matter? Let’s break it down.
Why do Recycling Standards Matter?
It might be surprising to know that even if you are diligently disposing of your plastic items, only 9% of Canadian plastic generated by various sectors is truly recycled.1
Why? Because there is no clear consensus on what ‘recycling’ and ‘recyclability’ mean. Thus, policymakers, recyclers, manufacturers and so on use different terminologies, processes and guidelines across Canada. This also makes it different for recyclers to select the proper sorting and recycling techniques for materials at hand.
Many materials are lost along the way. It is not clear at which step of the recycling value chain a product can be considered recycled or how to quantify outcomes.
Who Is the CSA Group?
The CSA Group works to establish testing, inspection and certification standards so manufacturers can confirm their products meet specific qualifications. They have published more than 3,000 codes and standards used across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Is a National Standard For Plastics Recycling Needed?
A national plastics recycling standard helps resolve some of the confusion surrounding plastic recycling processes. This affirms that measured and reported recycling rates, targets and policies used by regulators and governments are accurate.
The drafted definitions, and reporting and measuring standards are crucial:
- Assist in identifying materials that can be accurately labeled as recycled.
- Allow consistent measurement, tracking, and monitoring of the circularity of plastics (from plastic waste collection to the reuse of plastics in manufacturing)2
- Consistent and transparent data makes it possible to identify gaps in data to support the development of global baseline measurements.
So What is the CSA’s Proposed New Standard?
The CSA’s standard aims to apply to all plastic products and packaging that are non-biodegradable. It will decide how and when a recycled product is officially considered recycled, and clarify any technical calculations needed.
The standard defines recycling as “the processing of waste materials to produce secondary material(s) from which new products are made.”
Crucially, they suggest that recycling does not include the following:
- Burning plastic for waste-to-energy or fuel purposes
- Landfill cover
- Reuse of materials
- Decomposition of materials into greenhouse gases.
This would exclude many chemical recycling processes. Nonetheless, both mechanical and chemical recycling can be considered under this definition if the waste becomes a new product’s material.
What’s Next?
As we develop more circular systems and processes, we need clear definitions to assess the validity of sustainability claims. With a 9% recycling rate for plastics globally, we know the struggles linked to plastic recycling. Successful application of these definitions and standards to ensure plastic waste is transformed into equivalent plastic products, can leave us more confident about the validity of recycling claims.
Need help reducing plastic waste in your business? Learn more about our Plastic Awareness and Reduction Toolkits or contact us.
About the Author
Michelle Brake is the Program and Policy Manager at Mind Your Plastic (MYP). She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in political science from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Learn more about Michelle here!
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