City recycling operations shifting to third-party provincial provider

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Medicine Hat – Starting Tuesday, April 1, the City of Medicine Hat’s recycling program will be managed by Circular Materials as part of a shift to Alberta’s new extended producer responsibility (EPR) program.

EPR shifts the cost of recycling single-use products, packaging and printed paper products onto the producer as opposed to the residential consumer. This province-wide program will ensure a consistent recycling experience across Alberta.

Circular Materials registered with the Alberta Recycling Management Authority as a Single‑Use Products, Packaging and Paper Products (PPP) Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for the province of Alberta to help producers meet their obligations under the EPR regulations across Canada. The national not-for-profit organization has contracted GFL Environmental to perform residential recycling collection in Medicine Hat.

"We are excited to continue strengthening our environmental stewardship and are thrilled to have Circular Materials as a partner working towards a sustainable circular economy.  Together, we can achieve great things and make a lasting, positive impact,” said Shane Briggs, Waste and Recycling Manager for the City of Medicine Hat.

The curbside recycling collection process will not change for residents with this change in service provider. There will be no changes to the collection schedule or the list of items that can be recycled. The City’s three bulk recycling depots will also remain open and accessible for residential use.

With the City no longer managing this service, the daily charge of $0.2775 for Residential Recycling will be removed from residential customers' utility bills starting April 1. This results in a savings of $76.31 per residential household for the remainder of 2025, and $101.29 per year at the current rate.

View the following resources for more information on the province’s shift to EPR:

Circular Materials will provide more information on local recycling operations on the following Medicine Hat-specific website, set to go live on April 1: circularmaterials.ca/medicinehat

More information, including contact information for GFL Environmental and Circular Materials will also be live on the following City of Medicine Hat webpage on April 1: medicinehat.ca/residentialrecycling

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For media inquiries, please contact:
media@medicinehat.ca