Extended Producer…

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) which comes into effect in 2026 is supposed to build an accountable system for managing our waste. Our society creates way too much waste, thanks to Producers and Industy. EPR is an opportunity to get producers and industry to be accountable to reduce that waste, not to turn around and ask government to water down the regulations for them. Extending the legislation another five years means looking for more landfill space for our garbage and not considering waste diversion initiatives. Our greenhouse gases in the global north are contributing way more to climate change than in the global south. We need to look for ways to reduce our emissions, so we can reduce the impacts of climate change in the global south who are affected by our emissons as well as reduce emissions around us so we don't experience the extremely high temperatures of the heat wave of June 2025. Companies and industry producing the waste should be doing more to reduce the waste they produce and not lobbying government to allow them to continue to produce more waste. Producers have had a long time to prepare for EPR and for them to be lobbying for change in the 11th hour is reprehensible. If the government is listening to the producers, who is listening to the people and future generations?

Allow Ontario to become a world class province where we are leading the way in “recycling” and ramping up waste diversion initiatives. We have an opportunity to do that now and show the world that Ontario is leading edge when it comes to Recycling. What will waiting five years achieve?

Also not doing anything about multi-residential (apartment) recycling is unconscionable! Apartment recycling is never going to get easier. It is not fair for the people who live in apartment buildings who do want to recycle and reduce their waste, they want to be a part of the solution, but they need the infrastructure, resources and education. These are the newcomers, the underserved, the racialized who have always got a bad rap for not wanting to participate, but they do if they have the tools. Apartment recycling has been ignored for too long. Effort needs to be put in and funds need to be invested right now in apartment recycling so that the benefits start being experienced. Through EPR, resources can be provided. Waiting five years doesn't make sense. If costs are high now, they're going to be even higher in five years and then what happens in five years? Do we continue to kick the 'recycling' can down the road to make it someone else's problem?

This is a pivotal moment for the integrity of our recycling system. Please don't delay it, DO NOT EXTEND IT BY FIVE YEARS! PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND LET THE EPR PROGRAM START IN JANUARY 2026.