October 30, 2020
The Region of Peel has moved a step closer to its goal of 75 per cent waste diversion. In an announcement last week, the Ontario government put forward a proposal to overhaul the blue box recycling program.
The proposal includes expanding the items that can be recycled and making producers of products and packaging fully responsible for managing the full lifecycle of their products.
“The Region of Peel thanks Premier Ford, Minister Yurek and the Ontario Government for its continued work to enhance the blue box recycling program and moving this policy change forward,” says Norman Lee, the Region’s Director of Waste Management. “A plan that allows residents to put more items in their recycling and that makes collection consistent across the province is a step in the right direction that will result in less garbage being sent to landfill.”
Proposed changes to the program include:
- standardizing and increasing the list of materials accepted in the blue box to include paper and plastic cups, wraps, foils, trays, and bags and other single-use items such as stir sticks, straws, cutlery and plates;
- making producers operationally and financially responsible for the management of their blue box recyclables;
- transitioning the costs of the program away from municipal taxpayers to producers;
- encouraging innovation such as better product design and the use of new recycling technologies and processes for better environmental outcomes; and
- exempting small generators of blue box recyclables to minimize the impact and burden on small businesses.
“The Region of Peel continues to advocate for its residents and for a seamless transition with no disruption to waste collection services,” Mr. Lee adds.
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