The proposed amendments to…

The proposed amendments to the Blue Box Regulation represent a troubling step backward for environmental protection and waste reduction in our province. These changes will have serious environmental consequences. Postponing targets and allowing 'energy recovery' (aka incineration) to count toward recycling goals will increase landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions, undermining decades of progress and leaving problematic microplastic pollutants largely unaddressed.

The decision to cancel the expansion of Blue Box services to more multi-residential buildings, schools, and public spaces wastes the investments already made in recycling infrastructure and denies equitable access to recycling for thousands of Ontarians. Removing the requirement for printed educational materials further weakens public engagement and awareness, which are essential for effective recycling and risks the years of progress that have been made to date.

Ontario should be a global leader on waste reduction, not backsliding. These proposed amendments undermine our climate goals, wastes existing infrastructure, and prioritizes short-term cost savings over long-term environmental stewardship and innovation. Rather than addressing inefficiencies or investing in new technologies, the proposed amendments simply lower the bar.

I urge the government to reconsider these changes and instead invest in a resilient, equitable, and future-focused recycling system that protects our environment for generations to come.