Recycling Council of Alberta

Name

Recycling Council of Alberta

Legal name

Recycling Council of Alberta

Website

https://recycle.ab.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Recycling Council of Alberta is a Calgary-based nonprofit membership organization, founded in 1987, that serves 330+ Alberta municipalities, businesses, recyclers, and government agencies with circular economy education, policy advocacy (including Alberta's 2025 EPR launch), and community programs such as the WIL Hub, Big Shot pitch event, and annual Circular Economy Conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: RCA generates revenue through annual membership fees from municipalities, businesses, recyclers, nonprofits, government agencies, and individuals. Membership provides access to resources, networking, workshops, and the annual conference.
2. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorship at multiple tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Copper, Bronze) for RCA events and programs, including the annual conference and Circularity Day.
3. Government Grants and Partnerships: RCA receives grant funding from government bodies including the Government of Canada and Government of Alberta through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership for specific projects such as on-farm composting.
4. Conference and Event Revenue: Registration fees and associated revenue from the annual RCA Circular Economy Conference and other events such as Circularity Day, workshops, and webinars.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Recycling Council of Alberta is a non-profit membership organization that advances Alberta's transition to a circular economy through educational resources, community programs, events, policy advocacy and stakeholder convening. It sells annual memberships to municipalities, businesses, recyclers, government agencies, nonprofits and individuals; runs the annual Circular Economy Conference, the Big Shot pitch event, the Rs of Excellence Awards, and workshops/webinars; and produces Alberta-specific tools such as Circular Economy 101, the On-Farm Composting Guide, the Municipal Zero Waste Planning Tool-Kit, the Food Rescue Research Report, and the WIL Hub.

Product overview

The Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) operates as a non-profit circular economy advocacy and education organization rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings consist of educational resources (Circular Economy 101 presentation, On-Farm Composting Guide), event programs (Big Shot pitch event, Rs of Excellence Awards), community initiatives (Circular Communities Project, Libraries of Things), research publications (Food Rescue Research Report), workforce development (WIL Hub connecting 340+ members with post-secondary institutions), policy resources (EPR implementation support), and a podcast (On the Cusp). These programs collectively advance Alberta's transition to a circular economy through education, recognition, community engagement, and stakeholder collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circular Economy 101

Quantifiable outcome

• ABCRC has processed more than 42 billion beverage containers since 1995 through its work with RCA network members.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and gold.

• Stickland FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Central-Alberta compost operation serving as the primary case study in RCA's On-Farm Composting Guide. Brian Stickland and family provided operational insights, site layout and processing area overview, and practical guidance on benefits and challenges of different composting methods.
• Olds CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributor to the On-Farm Composting project, providing agricultural expertise and academic perspective on composting operations and agricultural applications.
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA acknowledges the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit whose footsteps have marked Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 territories within Alberta. The organization recognizes traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders and pledges to continue protecting these lands as an act of reconciliation.
• Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARMA provides oversight of Alberta's EPR system launched April 1, 2025. RCA played a key role in helping EPR become a reality by working with ARMA and government officials to carve out new regulations. RCA maintains an ongoing relationship with ARMA for EPR education and stakeholder engagement.
• Alberta Collaborative Extended Producer Responsibility (ACES) GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA participated with ACES, including municipal and producer representatives, to provide guidance and oversight on the Extended Producer Responsibility Study released in March 2020. RCA contributed to the EPR backgrounder and UCP Caucus presentation on EPR policy design.
• City of EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Edmonton served as Lead Sponsor for the Big Shot 2025 circular entrepreneur pitch event. The event was hosted at Edmonton Unlimited, a City of Edmonton initiative. City of Edmonton also participates in the Circular Communities project and has a Waste Reduction Network.
• Edmonton UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdmonton Unlimited hosted the Big Shot 2025 live pitch event showcasing Alberta's leading circular innovators. The venue provided a platform for five selected entrepreneurs to present their circular business ideas to investors, partners, and community leaders.
• Circular Materials (Platinum Sponsor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular Materials is the 2026-27 Platinum Sponsor of RCA. As a major producer responsibility organization, Circular Materials is a key partner in Alberta's EPR ecosystem. RCA hosted presentations from Circular Materials at its annual conference EPR workshops.
• Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABCRC is a Gold Sponsor of RCA (2026-27) and has been a recycling leader in Alberta for 30 years (since 1995). RCA shares ABCRC's 2025 Sustainability Report through its Connector newsletter. ABCRC has processed over 42 billion beverage containers.
• GFL EnvironmentalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGFL Environmental is a Gold Sponsor of RCA (2026-27). GFL is a major waste management and environmental services company operating across Canada, including new recycling facilities in Edmonton.
• City of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Calgary is a Gold Sponsor of RCA (2026-27) and a participant in the Circular Communities project. Calgary was one of five original communities in the Circular Communities project Phase 1, receiving a tailored circularity roadmap.
• Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA)goldStrategic or Co-development PartnerARMA is a Gold Sponsor of RCA (2026-27). As the oversight body for Alberta's EPR system, ARMA is a key strategic partner in RCA's policy and education work.
• CSA GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSA Group is a Silver Sponsor of RCA (2026-27). CSA Group develops standards and provides testing and certification services relevant to sustainability and circular economy practices.
• Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerERA is a Silver Sponsor of RCA (2026-27) and operates the annual Industrial Transformation Challenge, which RCA promotes to members through its Connector newsletter.
• TOMRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOMRA is a Copper Sponsor of RCA (2026-27). TOMRA provides sorting and recycling technology solutions relevant to Alberta's circular economy infrastructure.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA references the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's circular economy framework extensively in its Circular Communities project, citing the Foundation's principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
• Circle EconomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA references Circle Economy's Cities Programme and Circularity Gap Report in its Circular Communities resources, using the organization's frameworks and data to support Alberta municipalities in circularity planning.
• Bow Valley CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA's WIL Hub connects member organizations with Bow Valley College's career services to engage students in circular economy projects through internships, co-ops, and applied research.
• NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA's WIL Hub connects member organizations with NAIT's career services to engage students in circular economy projects. NAIT is one of 14 Alberta post-secondary institutions listed in the WIL Catalogue.
• University of AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA's WIL Hub connects member organizations with the University of Alberta's career services. The University of Alberta participated in the 2024-25 WIL program and is listed in the WIL Catalogue alongside 13 other Alberta post-secondary institutions.
• University of CalgaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCA's WIL Hub connects member organizations with the University of Calgary's career services. The University of Calgary participated in the 2024-25 WIL program and Kruti Shah from UCalgary was the RCA Research Team Lead on the Food Rescue project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Circle Economy: An Amsterdam-based impact organization operating the Circularity Gap Reporting framework and Cities Programme. RCA references Circle Economy's frameworks in its Circular Communities resources, making it a thematic peer operating at global scale against RCA's provincial footprint.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A global foundation promoting the circular economy through frameworks, education, and corporate partnerships. RCA explicitly references the Foundation's principles in its Circular Communities project; it is a broader incumbent whose frameworks and brand could be considered upstream of RCA's Alberta-specific delivery.

Others

• Closed Loop Partners: A US-based investment and innovation platform focused on the circular economy, deploying capital into recycling and reuse infrastructure. Adjacent to RCA's mission through shared circular economy focus, though operating in capital deployment rather than advocacy and convening.

Direct peers

• CM Consulting: A Canadian circular economy consulting firm providing strategy and implementation services to producers, retailers, and government. Comparable to RCA's role in supporting EPR implementation and circular business adoption in Canada, with overlapping client base among producers and municipalities.
• National Zero Waste Council: A Canadian national nonprofit council advancing waste prevention and the circular economy across Canada. Closely comparable to RCA's role at the national level, including work on EPR, extended producer responsibility policy, and stakeholder convening across government, business, and NGO sectors.
• Recycling Council of Ontario: Ontario's provincial nonprofit recycling council operating on a similar membership, education, and advocacy model. Directly comparable to RCA in scope of activities (recycling promotion, policy advocacy, member services) and structure as a provincial nonprofit steward.
• Recycling Council of British Columbia: British Columbia's provincial nonprofit recycling council offering the Recycling Hotline, public education, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to RCA as a sister provincial recycling/circular economy membership organization on the same model (membership, sponsorships, public education, advocacy).
• Product Stewardship Institute: A US-based nonprofit that works with government agencies, producers, and stakeholders to design and implement product stewardship and EPR programs. Comparable to RCA's EPR advocacy and policy convening role, with a similar model of cross-stakeholder collaboration on producer responsibility policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recycling-council-of-alberta
• Xx.com/3rsab
• Facebookfacebook.com/RecyclingCouncilOfAlberta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Recycling Council of Alberta