WM advances construction on Edmonton recycling facility
New facility will support Alberta’s expanding EPR system and increased residential recycling capacity
WM is advancing construction on a new preconditioning recycling facility (PCF) in Edmonton, a project that reflects both the company's broader recycling infrastructure strategy and Alberta's transition to extended producer responsibility (EPR) for residential packaging and paper products.
Unlike a traditional material recovery facility (MRF), which produces market-ready commodities for end users, a preconditioning facility focuses on the early-stage separation and preparation of recyclable materials before they move further through the recycling chain. The approach is intended to improve sorting efficiency, material quality, and logistics within Alberta's evolving EPR system.
Expected to open in early 2027, the facility will be owned and operated by WM Canada and developed in collaboration with Circular Materials, the producer responsibility organization tasked with implementing and managing Alberta's residential recycling system under the province's EPR framework.
The project represents a major investment in Alberta's recycling infrastructure and is intended to expand the province's ability to process a broader range of recyclable materials using advanced sorting and automation technologies.
Infrastructure designed to support Alberta's EPR transition
Alberta officially launched Phase 1 of its EPR system in April 2025, shifting the cost of residential recycling programs from municipalities and taxpayers to the companies that supply packaging and paper products to consumers.
Under the new framework, producers are now 100 percent responsible for funding the residential recycling system across the province.
Beginning October 1, 2026, Phase 2 of the province's EPR rollout will introduce a standardized list of accepted recyclable materials across Alberta. The expanded list will include materials such as glass containers, flexible plastic packaging, foam packaging, aerosol containers, and laminated paper and plastic packaging.
WM's Edmonton PCF is intended to support that transition by increasing processing capacity, improving material quality, enabling the recovery of a wider range of packaging and paper products, and improving recovery rates across the province.
Advanced sorting and automation systems
The facility will incorporate integrated sorting systems that combine bag openers, multiple sizing screens, ballistic screens, conveyors, and optical sorters designed to work together throughout the recycling process.
Near-infrared and advanced optical sorting technologies will support the identification and separation of packaging and paper products while improving sorting accuracy and operational efficiency. The system is also intended to improve material capture, optimize transportation and logistics across Alberta, and strengthen coordination with downstream end markets.
Once operational, WM's facility is expected to manage a significant portion of Alberta's residential recyclable material stream while helping expand the range of materials accepted within the province's recycling system.
Local construction and long-term employment
The project includes both the modernization of an existing building on WM-owned property and a significant expansion of the site. Construction is already underway, with an Alberta-based design-build firm leading the building portion of the project alongside local contractors and subcontractors.
The construction phase is expected to create approximately 80 full-time jobs through 2026 and into early 2027. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ approximately 45 full-time workers in management, supervisory, equipment operation, technical, and sorting roles.
Part of a larger North American investment strategy
The Edmonton PCF is also part of WM's larger North American recycling infrastructure strategy. The company plans to invest more than $1.9 billion CAD in 39 new or upgraded recycling facilities across North America between 2022 and 2027.
According to WM, those projects are expected to add approximately 2.5 million metric tonnes of annual processing capacity by the end of 2027 while expanding the company's ability to manage a broader range of recyclable materials.
For Alberta, the Edmonton facility represents one of the first major infrastructure projects tied directly to the province's transition to EPR and the modernization of its residential recycling system.
