Doug Ford’s proposed changes…

Doug Ford’s proposed changes to Ontario’s Blue Box recycling program are not beneficial to the people of Ontario for several reasons. Firstly, the shift in responsibility from municipalities to private producers may sound good in theory, but in practice it risks reducing accountability and transparency. Corporations now in charge of running the system may prioritize cost-cutting over environmental outcomes, potentially leading to a lower quality of recycling services, fewer accepted materials, or even more waste going to landfills.

Secondly, the changes could limit local control over recycling standards and services. Municipalities have decades of experience managing recycling in their communities, and taking that away undermines local efforts to improve waste diversion. There is also a risk that smaller communities will be underserved if private companies decide they are not profitable enough to service properly.

Lastly, while Ford’s government claims this shift will save taxpayers money, any costs saved publicly may simply be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices, with no guarantee of better outcomes. In the end, Ontarians could be left with a more fragmented, less effective recycling system that prioritizes corporate interests over environmental protection and public benefit.