The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Task Group was established to provide guidance on the development and implementation of EPR and product stewardship programs in Canada. One of the key issues that has plagued EPR programs of all types and in all sectors is the problem of free-riding. Free-riding occurs when one firm (or individual) benefits from the actions and efforts of another without paying or sharing the costs1. The EPR Task Group commissioned a study to analyse the free-rider issue from a Canadian perspective, paying particular attention to packaging and electronics stewardship programs. The objectives of this assignment were to determine the extent of the free rider issue within EPR/product stewardship programs in Canada, focusing on the electronics and packaging sectors; to recommend management options to address the free-riding issue and to suggest potential jurisdictional roles and responsibilities. To undertake this work a combination of interviews, literature review, and case study research was undertaken.