Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Provincial Politics

Province hoping to turn waste into economic growth

Jul 23, 2025 | 2:19 PM

The Alberta government is hoping new funding will reduce and reuse waste and transform the province’s resources into new products.

As Alberta’s circular economy continues to grow, provincial officials say it’s becoming another driving force in the economy, encouraging diversification while also creating good-paying jobs and piloting new technology. The government says this growth has solidified Alberta as a leader across Canada and the world in producing manufactured goods and materials.

The Alberta government says it is investing up to $49 million from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program to support 18 new projects. These projects are expected to create close to 1,600 jobs and inject $233 million into Alberta’s economy.

“Manufacturing is a pillar of our economy, employing tens of thousands of Albertans and solving real-world challenges,” explains Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “This funding will help manufacturers do more with the resources we already have, producing the goods Albertans rely on while strengthening the province’s global competitiveness, creating more jobs and protecting the environment.”

Provincial officials say the government’s investment through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) will expand the development of waste management, carbon utilization, critical minerals, energy storage, geothermal, oil sands and more. It will also create Alberta’s first recycling system for agricultural plastics and a facility that turns wood waste from construction, demolition and renovation into valuable building materials, officials point out.

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“By investing in advanced materials and circular economy solutions, we’re helping Alberta’s industries stay competitive, create jobs and reduce emissions,” adds Justin Riemer, chief executive office, Emissions Reduction Alberta. “This funding supports technologies that make better use of our resources while cutting costs. It’s a win for both the economy and the environment.”

According to the government, the funding will help businesses such as Pro-Pipe Service and Sales in Nisku create new technology that aims to lower costs and expand the use of geothermal energy projects in Alberta and beyond. The province says Carbonova Corporation in Calgary will also use the funding to develop its process to turn plant-based waste like woodchips and byproducts from oil refining into carbon nanofibers, which are said to be 40 times stronger than steel, and used in products like batteries and sports equipment.

“Support from the provincial government through Emissions Reduction Alberta is instrumental in launching our organics processing pilot facility in Alberta,” shares Dane McSpedon, chief executive officer, Hughes Energy Group. “By converting organic material into clean, high-value cellulosic fiber, we’re helping avoid methane emissions from landfills and creating low-carbon feedstocks that support decarbonization across multiple downstream industries.”

“ERA’s support in developing higher-performing recycled materials reflects the Government of Alberta’s confidence in homegrown innovation,” states Rocky Vermani, senior vice-president of innovation, sustainability and strategy, NOVA Chemicals. “NOVA Chemicals has a proud legacy of advancing technologies that reshape plastics for a better future, and we are pleased to receive this funding as we demonstrate how Alberta ingenuity can deliver sustainable solutions with global impact.”

“Government of Alberta funding through ERA is the catalyst that makes industrial-scale wood recovery possible,” says Jay Sanderson, president, Backroads Reclamation. “It sends a clear signal to investors and municipalities that Alberta is ready to lead the shift toward a low-carbon, circular building economy.”

“Support from the Government of Alberta through Emissions Reduction Alberta is a game-changer for our Nisku facility,” notes Mitchell Miller, chief executive officer, Atlas Power Technologies Inc. “This funding accelerates our timeline, creates local jobs and helps launch a new made-in-Alberta carbon-based battery materials industry utilizing abundant sustainable carbon waste. It’s a major step forward in building local clean-tech solutions with global impact.”

Alberta government quick facts

• The 18 projects will reduce about 3.4 million tonnes of emissions by 2030.
• All projects involve field testing, piloting, demonstration or first-of-kind implementation of a new technology.
• The TIER fund uses industry dollars to help Alberta facilities invest in innovative emissions-reduction technology to stay globally competitive, create jobs and save money.