Page 1

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

Intro: Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance has created best practice reporting tips for specific sectors. These tips are designed to assist

you in preparing your steward reports and to help you identify the proper material reporting categories for the common packaging

and printed paper materials used by businesses in this sector. These tips are provided for your guidance only. Any questions you may

have about these reporting tips or any questions you may have in preparing your report can be directed to stewards@cssalliance.ca.

General Tips: Please ensure that you include in your steward report all packaging and printed paper related to your private label brands.

o Beverage containers registered with Encorp Pacific or SARCAN do not need to be reported to Recycle BC or MMSW however,

secondary packaging such as film plastic wrap, corrugated cardboard or boxboard associated with these containers should be

reported to the applicable PPP program as only the containers and enclosures are part of the deposit program.

Reporting Beverage Milk and Milk Substitutes:

Recycle BC:

o Milk is not on deposit in BC when milk appears as one of first three ingredients in the ingredient list and should be reported to Recycle

BC

o Milk substitutes (milk substitutes from vegetables, nuts or grains) are not on deposit and need to be reported to Recycle BC

o Ready-to-drink infant formula, dietary supplements and meal replacements are not on deposit and need to be reported to Recycle BC

MMSW:

o All milk beverages (including milk, buttermilk, cream, fluid coffee cream, lactose-free milk products, drinkable yogurts) and non-dairy

ready-to-drink milk substite beverages (such as rice milk, almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk) are included in the SK deposit

program and should not be reported to MMSW.

o Packaging from all ready-to-serve non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages in multi-laminated foil pouches should be reported to MMSW

as these containers are not included in the deposit program

o Ready-to-drink infant formula, dietary supplements & meal replacement beverages are not on deposit and should be reported to

MMSW

Page 2

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

COMMON PRODUCTS COMPONENTS TYPICAL NATIONAL MATERIAL

SUBCATEGORIES REPORTING TIPS

Self-serve bulk bags

Produce, bakery or bulk

items

LDPE/HDPE Film

PLA, PHA, PHB Plastic Film

Plastic Laminates – Non-Beverage

Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging

Kraft Paper Bags – Point of Sale

General Tips: The deposit programs in BC and SK do not cover packaging of beverage concentrates that require the consumer to mix with water prior to

consumption. These containers should be reported to the applicable PPP program in each province.

MMSM:

o If you are a member of the Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), report all non-alcoholic beverage

containers and milk substitutes (soy milk, almond milk, rice milk etc.) in the CBCRA portion of the WeRecycle portal. Non-CBCRA

members report non-alcoholic beverage containers to MMSM. All milk beverages (regardless of where milk falls on the ingredient list)

are not on deposit and should be reported to MMSM.

Ensure all HR related documents and business cards are included in your reporting.

Please check the resin codes on your plastic packaging as different plastics are reported under different material categories.

Stewards may be able to use the Component Threshold Rule for packaging that is made up of two or more different material types when

certain components of the package constitute a small proportion of the entire package. Please see Part Two Section 2.4.1 of the Guidebook

for more details on how to use the Component Threshold Rule.

Please include all secondary packaging that goes to the household such as the plastic wrap around a multi-pack of tissue or water bottles.

Please ensure that transportation packaging that is not intended for use by the consumer at home is not included in your report.

Please include all returned merchandise in your steward report however, returned merchandise that is part of a recall, has expired or is

damaged and unable to be sold to a consumer may be excluded from your steward report.

Page 3

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

COMMON PRODUCTS COMPONENTS TYPICAL NATIONAL MATERIAL

SUBCATEGORIES REPORTING TIPS

Flyers

Flyers

Other Newsprint – Non-CNA/OCNA Members

Newsprint (Inserts & Circulars)

Other Printed Materials

Protective film

PLA, PHA, PHB – Plastic Film

LDPE/HDPE Film

Plastic Laminates – Non-Beverage

Receipts Retail receipt Other Printed Materials

Credit / debit receipt Other Printed Materials

Carry-out bags Point of sale

LDPE/HDPE Film – Carry-Out Bags

PLA, PHA, PHB – Carry-Out Bags

Plastic Laminates – Non-Beverage

Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging

Kraft Paper Bags – Point of Sale

Natural and Synthetic Textiles

Report Natural and Synthetic

Textiles in Ontario Only.

If reporting in Manitoba, report

both number of units of bags

supplied as well as KG of bags

supplied.

Purchased Reusable bags sold

as a product should not be

included in your report.

Price labels N/A

Paper Laminates

Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging

Plastic Laminates – Non-Beverage

Promotional material

Examples include:

coupons, scratch cards,

‘specials’, etc.

N/A Other Printed Materials

Page 4

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

COMMON PRODUCTS COMPONENTS TYPICAL NATIONAL MATERIAL

SUBCATEGORIES REPORTING TIPS

Gift card holder N/A Boxboard and Other Paper Packaging Other Printed Materials Other Plastic Packaging <5L – Non-Beverage

Do not report gift cards.

FAQ:

My grocery store has multiple departments such as floral, garden centre, café, bakery, deli, clothing, footwear, chemicals, and pharmacies. Should

I be reviewing other sector tip sheets to assist me with reporting?

Yes. Given the wide range of products you distribute, you may find many of the sector tip sheets helpful in preparing your steward report.

How do I use the steward list?

It is important that you only report the materials for which you are the resident brand owner, resident first importer or franchisor. Each year, CSSA

provides a list of registered and voluntary stewards for each program. We recommend that you consult this list prior to preparing your steward

report – that way you can be sure you do not report any material that is the responsibility of another steward. Please note that the data in the list is

based on information provided by stewards.

I sell seasonal items, how do I report that material?

If your product line changes throughout the year because you sell seasonal products, we suggest that you consult your sales data in order to

determine the packaging or printed paper material associated with those seasonal items that are supplied to residential customers. Please include

this material in your steward report.

I have a licensing agreement where another company manufactures my private label products. Who is obligated?

In most cases, the obligated steward for private label brands is the brand owner and not the manufacturer.

Page 5

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

FAQ:

Do I need to report the reusable bags that I provide to my customers at the cash register? Does it make a difference if I sell the bags or give them

out for free?

The bags you sell to your consumers that are durable and reusable (often sold by retailers to reduce the use of single-use carry-out bags) do not

need to be included in your steward report - these types of bags are considered to be a product. However, the free bags you provide to your

customers at the cash are considered to be service packaging and they do need to be reported in all four programs. There are some differences

between the four programs in how to report carry-out bags as follows:

• In ON, if you supply your consumers with complimentary textile-only bags at the point of sale, this material will be reported to SO

under Natural and Synthetic Textiles.

• In all other provinces, woven or non-woven plastic bags intended for more than one use should be reported under Plastic

Laminates.

I’m a MMSM steward who is also a CBCRA member. Where do I report beverage containers?

If you are a CBCRA member in Manitoba, please report all obligated beverage containers (and the associated secondary packaging) supplied to

consumers in Manitoba in the CBCRA section of the WeRecycle Portal. Please ensure you scroll down to the correct section of the portal to report

your CBCRA materials. The tonnage that you report in this section is not included in the fee calculation for MMSM materials – it is managed

separately by CBCRA. When you report in the CBCRA section, it ensures that your CBCRA materials are covered by the fees you submit monthly to

CBCRA and avoids the need for any adjustments.

Please remember to report both the tonnage and units for the CBCRA materials which you supply into the residential waste stream.

If you are not a registered member of CBCRA, please report all non-alcoholic beverage containers to MMSM. CBCRA program information can be

found on their website: www.cbcra-acrcb.org/.

Why are stewards required to update the Methodology section on an annual basis?

It is recommended that stewards review and update their methodologies on an annual basis in order to validate their approach to reporting each

year and to ensure their data collection processes remain current for their organization. Stewards are also required to update the brands/affiliates

section of their reports each year with the most accurate information, which includes brands for which they are the brand owner or the obligated

first importer. Changes in either of these areas will affect quantities reported year over year. During the report validation process, variances may be

identified in one or more material category. If the methodology section clarifies the reason for those variances, it makes the report validation

process more efficient for staff and stewards.

Page 6

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

FAQ:

I am a retailer registered in all 4 programs and we offer a return-to-retail program for my plastic carry-out bags. Sometimes other retailers carry out

bags are returned to us. A private contractor manages the end of life of these bags. Am I able to exclude this tonnage from my report as it will not

end up in the residential waste stream?

There are currently some differences between how each program manages reporting exclusions. Currently, only MMSM and Stewardship Ontario

allow deductions for plastic bags returned through an in-store recycling program. Recycle BC and MMSW manage deductions differently in

accordance with Section 2.1 of their respective membership agreements which do not allow Recycle BC or MMSW stewards from operating or

being part of another program: “You agree that, while a Member, You are prohibited from entering into an agreement with another person to

operate a like program, or by fulfilling those obligations yourself.”

The intention of this provision is not to prevent stewards from having these programs; however it does mean that you cannot deduct this material

from your reports. Please note that in British Columbia, Recycle BC is required by the regulator to conduct third party audits of stewards’ reports and

how recovered material is managed by collectors and processors to its end of life, and is required to include a description of the journey that

material takes through the end of life supply chain in its annual report (see Section 8(2) of the Recycling Regulation). Recycle BC would not be able

to track or audit any material that came back through a retailer’s store.

Page 7

These best practice reporting tips have been

developed specifically for grocery retailers

that distribute a wide variety of products to consumers.

GROCERY RETAILERS

Visit us online: cssalliance.ca

Speak to a representative: 1-888-980-9549

More Info: You may supply other products that are not included in this sector tip sheet. Please refer to the Sector Tip Sheets listed below if you supply any of

these additional products and require assistance in identifying the material category for reporting the packaging or printed paper associated with

these products.

COMMON PRODUCTS SECTOR TIP SHEET Clothing, jewellery, watches, sunglasses, luggage, hosiery Apparel & Accessories

Chocolate, candies, mints, lollipops, gum, syrups Confectionary

Boxed dry goods, bagged dry good, frozen food, canned food, jarred and bottled sauces,

liquid goods (non-Beverage), bread, snacks, baking products, coffee/tea Packaged Foods

Cribs, bookcases, tables, televisions, computers, cellphones, refrigerators, washer and dryers Furniture, Appliances & Electronics

Café and quick service establishment Restaurant, Quick Service Restaurants & Theatres

Laundry detergent and bleach, wipes, window cleaners, polish, dryer sheets, toilet paper,

facial tissues, shampoos and conditioners, hair removal products, hair colouring kits, hair

styling products, skin care, nail care, makeup, perfume/cologne, deodorant, oral care,

feminine care products, family planning and contraceptive products, health supplements,

hair tools and accessories, diapers, baby products, eye care

Personal Care & Household Products

Home décor, bath, dining, kitchen, outdoor living Small Household Goods (Bedding, Bath &

Kitchen)

Magazines, newspapers Newspapers & Magazines

Water, juices, pop Non-Dairy Beverages

Plant packaging, plant feed, plant seeds, fresh cut flowers Horticulture and Agriculture

Canned pet food, dry pet food and treats, litter, bedding, grooming products, leashes Pet Products

Children’s toys Toys

Purchased paper and envelopes, erasers and correction products, glue, tape, binders,

folders, calculators, planners, desk organizers, purchased calendars, notebook, construction

paper, labels, office basics, writing utensils, greeting cards, wrapping paper/gift packaging

Paper, Stationary & Office Supplies

Milk, cream, meal replacements, shakes, infant formula, yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese,

butter, whipped cream, cheese, ice cream, ice cream bars Dairy

Meat, fruits and vegetables Packaged Perishable Foods (Meat, Eggs &

Product)