Becoming a Cleanfarms member is the most efficient way to meet the regulatory obligations.
Businesses (referred to as “Steward of designated material” in Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation (The Regulation) that supply designated plastics and packaging into Manitoba, can meet their obligations under The Regulation in two ways:
- subscribe to a government approved program, i.e. enter into an agreement with an organization like Cleanfarms that has developed approved programs to meet the requirements of The Regulation.
OR
- operate their own government approved program
Businesses wishing to fulfill their obligations through Cleanfarms must register and adhere to financial and administrative rules. Please see below and our membership agreement.
Key references
- Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation
- Grain bags and twine: Approved Stewardship Program Plan & Approval Letter
- Designated crop Input packaging: Approved Stewardship Program Plan & Approval Letter
- A Snapshot of EPR Regulations on Ag Plastics
- Becoming a member
- Information for Manitoba farmers
Work with Cleanfarms to meet your obligations related to Manitoba’s Packaging and Printed Paper Stewardship Regulation
This is how Cleanfarms works with businesses (stewards of designated materials) to develop and operate farmer-focused programs that also allow businesses to meet the regulatory requirements:
- Businesses sign an agreement with Cleanfarms to become Members.
- Cleanfarms develops and manages programs on behalf of its members.
- Businesses finance the programs. Businesses must submit confidential data (g. the volume of twine sold in Manitoba) of designated material to Cleanfarms on a quarterly or annual basis.
- Cleanfarms establishes a levy or EHF per bag, per container, or by unit, in order to fairly allocate the costs of the programs amongst businesses.
- The businesses pay a levy or EHF to Cleanfarms to finance the programs.
- Cleanfarms manages all reporting and financial requirements.
Cleanfarms manages all activities associated with program delivery. This includes:
- Collection site selection, training and support.
- Transport and logistics.
- Sourcing and selection of end markets, managing all related health, safety and environmental standards.
- Financial management including the handling of confidential information.
- Promotion and education (farmers, collections site personnel and other stakeholders).
- Government reporting.
- Financial audits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Regulatory
What is a ‘steward of designated material’?
A ‘steward of designated material’ is a term used in the Regulation that describes a business that supplies a designated material.
What is a ‘designated material’?
The Regulation uses the term ‘designated material’ to identify a material that is impacted by the Regulation.
Where does it say that businesses supplying grain bags, baler or crop inputs have regulatory responsibilities related to recycling/recovery programs?
Start by reviewing Section 3 of the Regulation where it states that stewards of designated materials are prohibited from supplying designated materials unless they operate or subscribe to a packaging and printed paper stewardship program (Program).
Next, review Manitoba Environment and Climate’s ‘Stewardship Plans’ webpage* for a listing of items that are ‘designated materials’ in the province.
With programs now in effect for grain bags, baler twine and select packaging used for pesticides, seeds, liquid fertilizer and inoculants, businesses that supply these items in Manitoba must operate or subscribe to an approved stewardship program to manage the recycling and/or safe disposal of their items at end-of-life.
*Please note that this webpage has not yet been updated to reflect the recent addition of one-way, non-deposit, pesticide and fertilizer drums/totes and seed, pesticide or inoculant bags to the province’s listing of designated materials. In the meantime, this letter and document provide confirmation.
What is a ‘packaging and printed paper stewardship program’?
A ‘packaging and printed paper stewardship program’ is a a waste reduction and prevention program for waste packaging and printed paper that is approved under section 6 of the Regulation.
It is important to note that a ‘packaging and printed paper stewardship program’ (program) must be approved by the provincial government.
How do I know that/if…
My business is obligated by these regs?
Review Section 3 of the Regulation to determine if your business meets the definition of a ‘steward of designated material’ and Manitoba Environment and Climate’s ‘Stewardship Plans’ webpage* to determine if the products you supply meet the definition of a ‘designated material’.
Businesses should also talk to their suppliers to determine if their suppliers are already taking on the obligations for the products they supply. Most companies that supply pesticides and many companies that supply fertilizer, seeds, inoculants, grain bags and twine are taking on these obligations on behalf of their dealer networks through membership in Cleanfarms. View Cleanfarms’ member webpage.
*Please note that this webpage has not yet been updated to reflect the recent addition of one-way, non-deposit, pesticide and fertilizer drums/totes and seed, pesticide or inoculant bags to the province’s listing of designated materials. In the meantime, this letter and document provide confirmation.
The products that I sell are impacted by these regs?
Review Manitoba Environment and Climate’s ‘Stewardship Plans’ webpage* for a listing of items that are ‘designated materials’ in the province.
Grain bags, twine and select packaging used for pesticides, seed, liquid fertilizers and inoculant are impacted by these regulations.
*Please note that this webpage has not yet been updated to reflect the recent addition of one-way, non-deposit, pesticide and fertilizer drums/totes and seed, pesticide or inoculant bags to the province’s listing of designated materials. In the meantime, this letter and document provide confirmation.
Does joining Cleanfarms allows my business to meet these reg. requirements?
The Regulation states that businesses must operate or subscribe to an approved stewardship program to manage the recycling and/or safe disposal of certain items at end-of-life.
Review Manitoba Environment and Climate’s ‘Stewardship Plans’ webpage* and you will see that Cleanfarms is listed as a group that operates stewardship program plans have been approved by the Minister of Environment and Climate:
*Please note that this webpage has not yet been updated to reflect the recent addition of one-way, non-deposit, pesticide and fertilizer containers and seed, pesticide or inoculant bags to the province’s designated materials. In the meantime, this letter and document provide confirmation.
My suppliers have taken on this obligation on my behalf?
Talk to your suppliers. Most companies that supply pesticides and many companies that supply fertilizer, seeds, inoculants, grain bags and twine are taking on these obligations on behalf of their dealer networks through membership in Cleanfarms. View Cleanfarms’ member webpage.
Admin/finance
Why is a levy or EHF necessary?
There is a cost associated with delivering recycling/recovery programs. A levy/EHF is a mechanism commonly used to fairly allocate the costs to the businesses/products that are impacted.
The EHF or levy is used to finance the costs associated with transporting ag plastics to recycling end markets or for final safe disposal along with other aspects of program delivery including compensation for select collection sites, logistics, promotions & education, data management, etc.
How does a business remit an EHF/levy to Cleanfarms?
EHFs on grain bags and twine are remitted quarterly (see Rules related to reporting) while levies on crop input packaging are remitted annually.
Cleanfarms uses a secure online portal to collect confidential data from its members. Consult our membership agreement for additional information about the handling of confidential data.
I’m registered with Cleanfarms to meet my obligations in other regions. What do I do next?
Contact us to make sure that you are properly registered to subscribe to/supplier Manitoba-based programming.
I am an ag-retailer/seed dealer that acts as a collection site. What do I do next?
Contact us. In all likelihood, your suppliers are already doing their part and taking on the obligations on your behalf.
Businesses that supply grain bags, twine, or packaging used for crop inputs (pesticide, liquid fertilizer, seed and inoculants) are obligated by the Regulation and must operate their own government approved program(s) or subscribe to government approved program(s) like the ones that Cleanfarms deliver.
The information below provides key administrative information aimed at businesses that are required to meet regulatory obligations.
Grain Bags and Baler twine
Grain bags
- Collection points: Municipal
- Information for reporting: December 1, 2021: EHF start date
- Reporting frequency: Quarterly
- Environmental Handling Fee (EHF): $0.225/kg; most members apply the EHF as a visible fee at the point of purchase. Printable 2025 EHF Schedule
Information for farmers: Collection site map | webpage
Twine
Bags (seed, pesticide, inoculant)
Pesticide bags
- Collection points: Ag-retail locations
- Information for reporting:
- July 1, 2023: Regulatory obligation start date
- Winter 2025: Reporting takes place in the first quarter, based on January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 sales data
- 2025 levies apply to all 2024 sales data
- Reporting frequency: Annually
- Levies: Most members integrate the levy into the full cost of the product
Pesticide Bags
| Bag size | 2025 Levy |
| Less than 30 kg | $0.31 |
| 31 to 500 kg | $1.59 |
| ≥ 501 kg | $3.18 |
Note – Cleanfarms’ programs for packaging used in the crop input sector are largely offered Canada-wide. Companies that would like to use Cleanfarms to meet their regulatory obligations in Manitoba are required to support programming in all provinces they supply into. Contact us to learn more.
Information for farmers: Collection site map | webpage
Seed & inoculant bags
Containers, Drums & Totes
Pesticide Containers: Jugs (under 23L), Drums & Totes
- Collection points (jugs): Both municipal and ag-retail
- Collection points (drums and totes): Ag-retail
- Information for reporting:
- July 1, 2023: Regulatory obligation start date
- Winter 2025: Reporting takes place in the first quarter, based on January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 sales data
- 2025 levies apply to all 2024 sales data
- Reporting frequency: Annually
- Levies: Most members integrate the levy into the full cost of the product.
Pesticide (non-seed treatment) container levies
| Container size | 2025 Levy |
| ≤ 1 L | $0.088 |
| 1.01-23L | $0.88 |
| 23.1 – 225L | $23.51 |
| 225.1 – 550L | $32.73 |
| > 550 L | $45.79 |
Pesticide (seed treatment) container levies
| Container size | 2025 Levy |
| < 23 L | $1.04 |
| 23.1 – 225L | $30.58 |
| 225.1 – 550L | $44.43 |
| > 550 L | $55.00 |
Note – Cleanfarms’ programs for packaging used in the crop input sector are largely offered Canada-wide. Companies that would like to use Cleanfarms to meet their regulatory obligations in Manitoba are required to support programming in all provinces they supply into. Contact us to learn more.
Information for farmers: Collection site map | webpage
Fertilizer Containers: Jugs (under 23L), Drums & Totes
