Federal Plastics Registry: Phase 2

What's new, who needs to report, key dates, and how to get ready.

What You Need to Know About Phase 2 of the Federal Plastics Registry

Based on draft guidance — final requirements may change.

The Government of Canada has released draft guidance for Phase 2 of the Federal Plastics Registry, building on the reporting framework that began with Phase 1 in 2024. While these details are not yet final, the draft offers a clear look at what’s expected to be added — and who will need to prepare.

Key Changes in Phase 2

Phase 1 primarily focused on certain producers of packaging, single-use plastics, and electronic and electrical equipment. Phase 2 expands both who must report and what must be reported, including:

1. Additional product categories for producers - Producers (brand owners, certain retailers, and importers) will now need to report beyond packaging and electronics, with coverage expanded to include:
   • Agriculture and horticulture — mulch film, greenhouse coverings, drip lines, seed trays
   • Tires — passenger & truck tires, off-road and specialty tires
   • Transportation — plastic components in vehicles, boats, aircraft (e.g., interior panels, reservoirs)
   • Construction — PVC/PEX piping, insulation foams, siding, roofing membranes, vapor barriers
   • Fishing and aquaculture — nets, ropes, traps, buoys, cages
   • Apparel and textiles — clothing, footwear, fabrics with synthetics (polyester, nylon, spandex)

   For these categories, producers will report the quantity of plastic manufactured, imported, or placed on the market in each province/territory, broken down by resin type, resin source, and waste stream — consistent with Phase 1’s reporting requirements for packaging and electronics.

2. Industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) waste generators — New in Phase 2, organizations that operate ICI facilities must report the quantity of plastic waste generated on-site and sent for diversion or disposal. This requirement applies across all product categories and includes:
   • Institutional — e.g., hospitals, universities, municipal offices
   • Commercial — e.g., retail stores, distribution centres
   • Industrial — e.g., farms, manufacturers

   Waste generators must also report resin type, product category, and subcategory for the waste, along with the calculation method used (e.g., waste audit, purchase records, or other approved method). Entities with multiple facilities will file one consolidated report.

3. Service providers — Waste management companies and recyclers that collect or process end-of-life plastics in certain categories (packaging, single-use/disposable items, agriculture/horticulture) are now in scope. They must report:
   • The quantity of plastics collected at end-of-life
   • The quantity managed through diversion or disposal activities (e.g., recycling, composting, energy recovery, landfill)
   • Breakdowns by resin type, product category, and subcategory

   Phase 2 also encourages service providers to coordinate with upstream suppliers and downstream processors to avoid duplicate reporting, since plastics should only be counted once for collection and once for diversion/disposal.

Deadlines and Timeline

Reporting under Phase 2 begins with 2025 data, due September 29, 2026. The draft guidance for Phase 2 was open for public comment until July 24, 2025, with the final reporting guide expected in fall 2025.

Preparing Now

• Check if your business falls under new Phase 2 categories
• Identify where plastics enter, move through, and leave your operations
• Work with suppliers to identify the material composition of your products and packaging
• Set up systems for tracking resin type, source, and waste streams

We Can Help

Most organizations lack systems to track resin type, source, and waste streams with the accuracy and consistency the Federal Plastics Registry demands. Circular Sky is designed to remove that burden and streamline both Phase 1 and Phase 2 reporting from data collection to submission.

Contact Us to discover how Circular Sky can transform your Federal Plastics Registry reporting across both Phase 1 and Phase 2.