The Government of Yukon is launching a rebate to support local businesses participating in the packaging and paper products Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program. The funding will help offset the higher per-product fees paid by Yukon businesses compared to EPR fees in Alberta and British Columbia.
Since EPR programs started in the Yukon, the government has monitored program implementation and worked with the Producer Responsibility Organizations (PRO) to identify opportunities to improve program delivery and address cost concerns. The government has also paused the expansion of some EPR requirements that would not affect existing recycling and waste management services while considering options to support environmental objectives and reduce private sector impacts.
The packaging and paper products program is the largest EPR program in the territory and supports many of the recycling services Yukoners use. Fees under the program are two and half times higher than those in Alberta and British Columbia. Work so far to negotiate the alignment of rates to be closer to southern jurisdictions raised concerns about whether Yukon-based businesses would see a reduction to their rates, so the Yukon government is implementing a solution tailored to the territory.
This time-limited measure is intended to support eligible businesses as EPR continues to be evaluated. The program will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure funding remains within the approved budget.
Eligible costs must have been incurred or invoices received between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026. Applications must be submitted by December 31, 2026.
Detailed eligibility criteria and application information are available at Yukon.ca.
We have heard concerns from Yukon businesses about the costs associated with Extended Producer Responsibility. This rebate reflects our government’s commitment to finding the right balance between maintaining the recycling and waste management services Yukoners rely on and reducing impacts on Yukon businesses. By providing targeted relief for packaging and paper requirements, we are helping local businesses manage higher EPR fees while continuing to support waste reduction and environmental stewardship.
The Government of Yukon is committed to supporting businesses while offering this rebate with minimal red tape. It is critical that we operate effective recycling and waste diversion programs in the Yukon, while recognizing the financial and administrative requirements Extended Producer Responsibility can present for obligated Yukon businesses.
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Under the paper, packaging and products Extended Producer Responsibility program, producers fund the collection and recycling of paper and packaging materials, which supports services across the Yukon, including curbside collection and public drop-off depots.
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The paper, packaging and products program represents approximately 85 per cent of all EPR costs in the Yukon.
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Producer Responsibility Organizations are organizations that administer EPR programs on behalf of producers and are responsible for collecting producer fees and operating recycling and recovery systems.
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The Government of Yukon allocated $3,000,000 in its Operations and Maintenance budget for fiscal year 2026–27 to address private sector impacts of EPR.
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To further address concerns about program costs, the Government of Yukon has also paused the expansion of EPR collection to include glass, Styrofoam, flexible plastics, aerosols and collection services for small businesses until January 1, 2029. The hazardous and special waste EPR program remains on pause.
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At this summer’s Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment meetings, all Canadian jurisdictions with EPR shared concerns with the program. The Yukon and British Columbia are co-leading a provincial-territorial working group on EPR.
- The Extended Producer Responsibility Regulation came into effect in January 2024. Some programs under the Regulation came into effect in 2025, including for batteries (June), for automotive products (August) and paper and packaging (November).
- Implementation of the hazardous and special waste program was paused in January 2026.
Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
[email protected]
Damian Topps
Communications, Economy, Tourism and Culture
867-667-5378
[email protected]
Mara De La Rosa
Communications, Environment
867-456-5565
[email protected]