Good morning and thank you…

Good morning and thank you for starting to explore a much-needed update of our recycling program. Although there are great takeaways from the proposal, unfortunately, I do not fully support this recycling program for a plethora of reasons. Several of the initial rationales are mentioned below.
- Costs of program will just be passed on to consumers and the residents of Ontario.
- Program oversight and costs from authorities will not be manageable based on the sheer number of businesses. Again, cost will be passed along to consumers/tax payers.
- Businesses will begin to divert recycling to general waste streams as tonnage per regular waste is much lower and easier to deal with.
- Inadequate recycling facilities available. Transportation costs may not be feasible to the nearest facility.
- Most businesses do not have enough income streams to put towards recycling research, development and program management.
- Will contribute to a larger carbon footprint as companies will transport waste further distances if more economically feasible.
- May experience a loss of jobs if materials are exported to other countries based on costs.
- Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act is too convoluted. See Item #1.
- Producers will not participate in curbside recycling pick-ups. They are not in the recycling business.
They are in the fast food business, grocery, clothing, home improvement…you get the idea.

This does not feel like the correct approach to conducting business in Ontario and preserving the environment in a sustainable manner at the same time. I do agree that businesses need to be more accountable though. Support for a provincially development and operated system as the framework with the ultimate transition (sale) to the private sector (i.e. think hydro, Petro-Canada etc.) could appear more suitable. This method should significantly reduce the carbon footprint by not shipping to the USA or other international destinations as well as outsourcing jobs to other nations. Components of the Provincial operated system could include:
 Keep municipal recycling programs intact.
 Work with Federal government to mandate types of materials permitted in Canada (i.e. only glass, metal, paper and select plastics).
o Rip of the band-aid and eliminate non-recyclable/non-compostable single-use packaging or products. Only permit Plastics 1 & 2 in the grocery/food industry etc.
o Push for glass and metal, which have a near infinite recyclability.
 Consumer education and lots of it.
 Job growth both public and private and keeping majority of jobs within the province of Ontario or neighbouring provinces.
 Research and development of recycling facilities in the province capable of handling the mandated streams. Place facilities in strategic areas in order to reduce carbon footprint (near existing rail/other transportation). Facilities could be placed in areas that have experienced economic losses such as former manufacturing hubs to promote economic growth again.
 Intake recycling stream. Sell products to companies who will pay for our post-consumer recyclables both nationally and internationally. Reduce carbon footprint by having companies purchase materials nationally versus internationally.
o Provide subsidies for provincial companies purchasing the post-consumer products.
o Provide some subsidy to companies located in other provinces.
 Incentives for producers who comply, meet objectives or contribute to the research and development of the program.
 Consider a compost program along side the blue bin program. Excellent opportunity to bring back agriculture type of program to the province.

The province should be setting the example and demonstrating what a sustainable program looks like through their action. Putting the entire recycling objective on businesses will discourage growth. We need to encourage businesses to operate here but they will see this as burden and ultimately set-up shop somewhere else where these roadblocks/burdens are not as prevelant.

Thank you,