EPR policy at Environment Canada consists of initiatives managed through the National Office of Pollution Prevention that aim to promote awareness and understanding, to monitor the Canadian and international development, to provide a framework and, to provide tools for determination of use. It links to pollution prevention, toxic use reduction, life cycle management, waste minimization, and resource efficiency. 

According to Environment Canada, potential EPR benefits include the promotion of life cycle management, encouragement of pollution prevention and toxics reduction, addressing issues of improper waste disposal, support of recycling and reuse, and support of more efficient and competitive manufacturing. 

EPR first emerged in Europe with a focus on packaging (German Packaging Ordinance in 1991, France Eco Emballage in 1992...). Since then, EPR has expanded from packaging to other products, like batteries, electronics, and solvents, and has spread beyond Europe into Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency primarily focuses its EPR efforts on voluntary action. 

Taxpayer fatigue from the financial burden for recycling and disposal spurred the emergence of EPR approaches in Canada. Taxpayer pressure is an effective means to address a waste issue and achieve waste diversion objectives, in light of poor incentives to change consumption habits or to reformulate products.

EPR exists in Canada on 4 different levels: National, provincial, municipal and industrial, but, looking ahead, EPR approach will continue to grow with new initiatives. Today, there are a few initiative programs in Canada, including EPR for oil, paint, used tires, batteries, and plastic. The primary objectives of the provincial program are to support and encourage recycling programs, to address improper disposal and litter abatement, and to shift burdens from taxpayers to users/producers. Secondary, their objectives are to increase the reuse of materials and to reduce energy and material intensity in production.