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OWMA Statement: Transition of Ontario's Blue Box Program to producer responsibility model

Aug 16, 2019

The Ontario Waste Management Association commends the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on his August 15th, 2019 announcement regarding the management and transfer of Ontario’s Blue Box Program to a producer responsibility model.

This change will incentivize producers to effectively and accountably promote waste diversion, better manage the handling of products and packaging at the end-of-life stage, and reduce the burden on municipal taxpayers, which currently exceeds $120 million a year.

A full producer responsibility model for the Blue Box Program also makes producer companies responsible for the true costs of recovering materials from the waste stream, and encourages improved diversion of waste from landfills.

OWMA looks forward to further consultations among stakeholders, including stewards, municipalities and service providers (e.g. collectors, haulers, processors, recycled product manufacturers) as the transition plan is further developed. It is vital that waste service providers and municipalities receive transparent and clear communications on a regular basis during development and implementation of the plan.

Background

Some of the first curbside recycling programs were introduced by Ontario municipalities in the 1980’s. Ontario’s internationally recognized Blue Box Program has helped Ontarian's achieve a 62% rate of recycling.

OWMA recommends the following measures be taken to ensure the successful transition of the Blue Box Program to a producer responsibility model:

  • Set adequate recycling targets; targets should increase over time, and be flexible depending on the type of materials.
  • Ensure a competitive bidding and procurement process for waste services such as: collecting, sorting and processing.
  • Harness economic opportunity by requiring a mandatory amount of recycled content into products and packaging generated by producers.
  • Reduce barriers to investing and building new waste management facilities.
  • Improve the systems for ensuring that Blue Box materials that are collected are actually recycled, including following CSA Guidelines, waste audits and performance measurement.

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