CSA Group publishes standard defining plastics recycling in Canada

Toronto-based CSA Group has announced the publication of a new National Standard of Canada to enhance consistency in the defining, measuring and reporting of plastics recycling.

The standard, CSA R117:24: Plastics Recycling: Definitions, measuring, and reporting, provides a comprehensive definition of plastics recycling in Canada. CSA says this standard, which was developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), will help policymakers and business leaders understand clearly and consistently when and how much plastic has been fully recycled. It also aims to help standardize the reporting and calculation of recycling rates, targeting all nonbiodegradable plastics.

“Standards can play a critical role in plastics recycling,” says Michael Leering, director of environment and business excellence at CSA Group. “By establishing a standardized framework and consistent definitions across the various recycling methods, tracking and measuring, the circularity of plastics becomes more clear. In turn, this new national standard can help support better decision-making across supply chains.”

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Developed using a consensus-based approach, the standard was shaped by volunteer members representing various interest groups, including government officials, manufacturers, recyclers and other industry representatives.

The definition, which specifies that recycling is the processing of waste material to produce secondary material intended to make new products, excludes reuse and any process used to make fuel—like waste to energy (WTE).

“The transition towards a circular economy is ongoing,” Leering says. “By defining points where materials can be deemed ‘recycled’, this standard will help guide industry leaders in enhancing the efficiency of recycling reporting.”

The standard also sets different calculation points for chemical and mechanical recycling value chains.

CSA says various stakeholders stand to benefit from the standard, including policymakers wishing to establish plastics recycling rate targets in legislation, municipalities that report data on the recycling of plastic, waste management companies reporting on their recycling performance and industries that partake in the plastics supply chain.