Provincial promises Solving…

Provincial promises
Solving waste from the back end is not working! Explicit waste reduction and reuse regulations, incentives and enforcement for producers and consumers, and political will are needed now.
The province has the ability to ensure a smooth transition toward a circular economy without delay. Officials know what is required to achieve success. It has all been presented before.

For decades, the blue box has been the standard way to divert resources from disposal. Despite this time, effort, and expense, results are pitiful - it still has serious contamination problems, poor diversion rates, high costs, little to no markets, and is not consistent across the province.
In Ontario, less than 10% of materials collected for recycling are actually recycled. Electronic waste has more than tripled in 20 years and less than 20% is recycled.
A new system is needed, one that puts a price on waste materials, rewarding reduction and reuse, in order to achieve more promising waste reduction results.

The province claims new regulations will improve the blue box system “by providing consistent service that will reduce litter and allow more materials to be recycled in more communities.”
If the province was serious about this it would have enforced Deposit-Return regulations decades ago, by requiring the beverage industry to refund consumers, and collect and refill containers. Instead, provincial officials ignored industry strategies to phase out refillables.
This left municipal taxpayers responsible for 100% of the costs to collect, sort and find markets for containers.

Designating “Eligible Products”
The province has listed Beverage Containers as ‘eligible products’, for producers to manage. The province can provide an immediate solution to this waste by requiring the beverage industry to launch DRS on all containers. This should have been done decades ago!
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A SERIOUS OMISSION - Disposable Diapers, Hygiene and Incontinence Products
THESE PRODUCTS DO NOT BELONG IN MUNICIPAL COMPOSTING FACILITIES!
The province must designate Disposable Diapers, Hygiene and Incontinence Products as “eligible products” for producers to manage.
This multi-billion-dollar industry has the ability to set up special collections at curbside, day cares, senior homes, etc., to separate fibers from sewage and plastic for appropriate recycling.
These products represent a large part of the waste stream. Responsible diversion will keep dangerous pathogens and chemicals from seeping into our air, land and water.
Again, THESE PRODUCTS DO NOT BELONG IN MUNICIPAL COMPOSTING FACILITIES!

Include Industrial, Commercial, Institutional (IC&I)
New legislation must require all sectors to participate in waste reduction programs.
IC&I generates the most waste. It is essential that the IC&I be included in regulations that require participation in effective waste reduction programs, promotion and education. Public facilities and special events are good places to educate the public and to increase awareness and participation in programs.

Provincial oversight
Producer programs, material destinations, reviews, enforcement and follow-up will help ensure compliance. Shipping materials overseas should not be permitted, since it’s difficult to monitor standards and track responsible reuse or recycling of materials. Resources should remain local.

Lead by example
All provincial agencies, offices, facilities, and service providers must lead by example - securing green procurement policies and ensuring that effective waste reduction programs are successful.