The reform of Ontario’s Blue…

The reform of Ontario’s Blue Box regulation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address packaging waste, especially single-use plastic packaging, in Canada’s most populous province. This is a great idea and I'm glad to see the province taking some action on this issue.

Unfortunately, the best and most important opportunities to improve plastic recycling are missing from the proposal. The recycling targets are too low, the material categories are too broad, and the timelines are too long. Even in 2030 producers will still be sending 60 per cent of their plastic bags, films, and pouches to landfills; and 40 per cent of their plastic bottles, tubs, and jars. This is unacceptable. Ontario can do better.

I urge you to revise the regulation to, at a minimum:

Set disaggregated diversion targets for plastics to ensure producers can’t ignore the hardest-to-recycle materials. The regulation must include a specific, enforceable diversion target for each plastic resin code from #1-#7.

Set much higher diversion targets for plastics to encourage material substitution, product redesign, and investments in collection and recycling infrastructure;

Enforce diversion targets throughout the transition to ensure no backsliding in program performance, and that producers build the best collection and recycling systems from day one;

Establish and enforce an auditing program funded by the government to ensure that producers are meeting these stringent requirements.

As is, this draft regulation will mean millions of more tonnes of plastic waste ending up in Ontario parks, lakes, landfills, and incinerators. This is inconsistent with the province’s commitment to reducing litter and waste in our communities as described in its Made-In-Ontario Environment Plan.