Do you know that the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) reporting deadline for the 2024 calendar year is June 2nd, 2025? And do you know there are published changes which take effect for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 calendar year NPRI reporting?
We summarized NPRI and these important updates – read further below to learn how it affects your business.
What is the NPRI?
The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) reporting program is managed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and tracks data on the amount of pollutants released from Canadian industrial facilities into the environment. All levels of government, companies, organizations, researchers, and citizens can use the data to help make informed decisions on protecting the environment and developing pollution management plans.
Reporting to the NPRI is an important part of environmental compliance for industrial facilities in Canada. The reporting requirements are set out in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Failure to report or provide false information can result in fines and other penalties.
What are the New Requirements for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 Calendar Year NPRI Reporting?
The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) included the following new requirements which begin in the 2025 NPRI calendar year (reporting deadline of June 1, 2026) following a Canada Gazette March 8, 2025 notice, with respect to the substances in the NPRI for 2025, 2026 and 2027 Calendar Years.
- 163 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were added to a new Part 1, Group C
- 92 long-chain aliphatic amines were added to Part 1, Group B
- Free cyanide, cyanide salts and cyanide complexes were added to Part 1, Group B.
- Hydrogen cyanide was deleted from Part 1, Group A, and added to Part 1, Group B
- New additions of triarylmethane dye substances to Part 1, Group B
- New requirements for reporting benzothiazoles that can form 2-mercaptobenzothiazole to Part 1, Group B
- Ethylene oxide was deleted from Part 1, Group A and added to Part 1, Group B (activity of education or training of students must be included)
New PFAS Reporting Requirements
The NPRI included a new requirement for reporting certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) beginning in the 2025 NPRI calendar year (reporting deadline of June 1, 2026).
As mentioned in the section above, 163 PFAS have been added to a new Part 1, Group C, of the substance list. Facilities that meet the employee threshold and that manufacture, produce, or otherwise use 1 kg or more of a listed PFAS at a concentration of 0.1% by weight or more, will be required to report quantities of that PFAS that are released, disposed of and recycled. The mass and concentration thresholds apply to each listed PFAS individually.
The 2025-2027 Guide for NPRI Reporting is expected to be published on the NPRI website after June 1, 2025, and should clarify the new reporting requirements including those for PFAS reporting. Stay tuned for more information then.
What are PFAS?
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of human-made substances. PFAS have high chemical stability and has often been termed as “forever chemicals” known to persist in the environment. Some typical uses of PFAS include surfactants, lubricants, and repellents (for dirt, water, and grease). PFAS can also be found in certain firefighting foams, food packaging, drugs, cosmetics, sunscreens, pesticides, textiles (for example, carpets, furniture, and clothing), non-stick cookware, vehicles, and electronics. Adverse environmental and health effects have been observed for well-studied PFAS and they have been shown to pose a risk to the Canadian environment.
How Can We Help?
The NPRI Reporting framework is complex; an assessment of your facility’s operations is needed to determine whether the reporting thresholds are met. Keystone Environmental’s technical experts stay updated on current reporting regulations and requirements to ensure we can efficiently assist in assessing your operations and collecting the appropriate data required to complete your submission.
For more information on these regulation updates, or to learn how we can support you with your NPRI Reporting for the 2024 calendar year, contact our Engineering Department Head, Richard Johns.
***
Summary written by Josie Shields, Field Engineer.