Dear Mr. Peverini, I am…

Dear Mr. Peverini,
I am writing on behalf of Grand Erie District School Board to express our concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the Blue Box Regulation.
In October 2023, a Senior Compliance and Registry Officer with Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA) met with school boards through the Environmental and Sustainability Committee (ESC) of Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) to discuss the changes to the Blue Box program and its implications for Ontario School Boards.
This presentation helped school boards better understand the Blue Box Regulation, the transition period, school eligibility for common collection, and the responsibilities of board as producers. While RPRA addressed many questions, concerns remained – particularly regarding the feasibility, value and compliance of annual reporting. Unfortunately, school boards continue to have unanswered questions and concerns on the reporting, however, this letter will address the proposed amendments.
Since that time, communities have transitioned and many school boards in Ontario have registered with RPRA to access common recycling collection beginning in January 2026. Others have continued to recycle blue box materials through the curbside system just as they had with their county, municipality or region partnership previously. The proposed amendments threaten to disrupt or eliminate recycling programs within schools. We have outlined our key concerns below:
Inconsistent Recycling Programs:
Many Ontario School Boards span municipal jurisdictions, and staff and students frequently transition between schools in different cities. If the proposed amendments are implemented, boards, including ours, may be forced to implement a hybrid model of private hauling and common curbside collection. This inconsistency in recycling services creates confusion and undermines the effectiveness of environmental education. A uniform approach to blue box services across all school boards is essential to ensure equitable access and consistent messaging.
Economic and Logistical Challenges:
Excluding new schools from the blue box program will require the use of private waste haulers for individual school sites. This is not only cost-prohibitive but also potentially logistically unfeasible, particularly in a geographically large and growing region. Haulers may be unwilling to service isolated schools, leading to service gaps and increased operational burdens. Additionally, the timing of the proposed amendments does not allow school boards sufficient time to plan for budgetary or operational changes. Extending contracts is not always a simple or feasible solution.
Waste Diversion Programming:
Ontario schools serve over 2 million students (Ministry of Education, 2024), offering a powerful platform for promoting recycling, waste diversion, and sustainability. The lessons learned in schools extend to students’ homes, reinforcing environmental education and fostering sustainable habits. The proposed amendments risk undermining these efforts, not only within schools but across communities.
Students, staff, and school business officials are passionate about environmental stewardship. Each student of ours represents the “power of one,” and together, we have the potential to drive meaningful change. Grand Erie, along with OASBO’s ESC, is committed to working collaboratively with the Ontario Government and RPRA to shape the future of waste diversion in Ontario.
In conclusion, we respectfully urge the Ministry to reconsider the proposed removal of the planned expansion of Blue Box services to additional schools. Including all schools—regardless of their location or construction date—is essential to ensure operational feasibility, consistency in environmental education, and a continued commitment to sustainability.
We look forward to hearing from you to discuss this further. Please contact me - Katie Hashimoto at katie.hashimoto@granderie.ca or by phone at (519) 756-6301, ext. 281197.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Katie Hashimoto,
Divisional Manager of Operations, Energy & Sustainability
Grand Erie District School Board