Advancing the Circular Economy: Navigating Ontario’s Advanced Recycling Systems

As Circular Materials’ CEO, Allen is responsible for leading the organization through the development and implementation of Ontario’s new blue box recycling system while also expanding the organization’s operations into other jurisdictions. The organization’s mission is to support producers with a robust not-for-profit service offering that advances the circular economy, delivers national harmonization of extended producer responsibility (EPR) services and harnesses competitive procurement to provide the best value for producers.

Prior to joining Circular Materials, Allen served as the President and CEO of Return-It, British Columbia’s very successful used beverage container management program in Canada. In this role, Allen oversaw the modernization of Return-It’s collection network, which consists of more than 170 collection sites, including Return-It depots, Express Plus and Express & GO stations. Return-It has routinely exceeded a 75% recovery rate for used beverage containers in British Columbia, and its network has supported the collection of new materials, including waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Allen also served as the Managing Director for Recycle BC, the first 100% EPR program for paper and packaging in North America where industry assumed full financial and managerial responsibility for the residential recycling system.

Allen currently serves as an Advisory Council Member for the Canada Plastics Pact, and Advisory Board Member for the Washington State Recycling Development Centre.

Alain is a corporate affairs professional currently serving as Vice President – Sustainability, Social Impact and Government Relations for Loblaw Companies Limited.
In his role Alain oversees the sustainability and community investment efforts for Loblaw and the communities it serves from coast to coast,
Prior to joining Loblaw, Alain held senior political roles at the provincial and federal levels in both government and opposition.
Alain is currently the Vice Chair of Circular Materials and has served on many boards and councils including Multi-Material B.C. (Recycle BC), National Farmed Animal Health and Wellness Council, and the Loblaw Scholarship Fund.
Alain is a Western University alum where he studied Political Science and History. He is a proud native of North Bay, ON. He and his wife live in Toronto with their three children.

Catherine is the sustainability communications lead at Unilever Canada. With a career of over 30 years focused on environmental issues, she has gained extensive experience in developing and executing sustainability communications strategies.
Most recently her work has focused on sharing stories of Unilever’s journey to net zero, how Unilever is working to protect and regenerate nature, and innovations and collaborations to reduce its plastics footprint. In addition to communications, Catherine’s responsibilities include regulatory affairs on issues related to plastics, packaging and extended producer responsibility.

For the past 30 plus years, Merlin Plastics has planned, developed, and built plants that recycle plastic packaging including polyolefin (rigid and flexible) and PET. The company began its recycling business in 1987 out of a two thousand square foot warehouse in Delta, British Columbia. Today, Merlin owns and operates recycling facilities that total over one million square feet in space with sister plants located in Alberta, Ontario, California and Oregon. Merlin has also been involved in post-collection EPR programs and worked in partnership with EPR organizations to effectively manage end of life plastics packaging. In 2001, Merlin Plastics received the “Outstanding Contribution to Recycling” award from the Recycling Council of Alberta. And in 2005, the Recycling Council of BC recognized Merlin Plastics with an award “in recognition of ongoing commitment to the ideals of responsible environmental stewardship in the province of British Columbia”.
Tony is a current Director of the Canada Plastics Pact, and an active member of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association and the Association of Plastics Recyclers. He is passionate about the environment, and feels blessed to have a career that is consistent with his personal environmental values.