This consultation was open from:
April 30, 2003
to May 30, 2003
Decision summary
In an ongoing effort to modernize the Environmental Registry the Ministry has identified this as an outdated notice which is no longer pertinent or active. The Ontario government has instead revised how Blue Box materials are dealt with in the Blue Box Regulation that makes producers responsible for their products at end of life.
Decision details
This decision notice has been posted to advise the public that the government is no longer considering the proposal to revoke Regulation 340 ("Containers") and Regulation 357 ("Refillable Containers for Carbonated Soft Drink") under the Environmental Protection Act given that the Blue Box program is winding up on December 31, 2025 and the new Blue Box Regulation includes beverage containers in those regulations and is now in effect. The government will further consider the continuing need for Regulations 340 and 357 in light of the new Blue Box Regulation.
Transitioning to a new producer responsibility framework
The government committed to transitioning Ontario’s existing waste diversion programs from the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016 (WDTA) to the producer responsibility model under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016.
In keeping with the government's commitments, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (the Minister) has directed that Ontario’s mandated waste diversion programs (including in relation to the current Blue Box program) transition to the new producer responsibility framework. The Ontario government has a Blue Box Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 that makes producers fully responsible for managing their products at end of life.
Blue Box Regulation
Under the Blue Box Regulation, we make producers of blue box materials, including beverage containers, fully responsible for managing their products by:
- transitioning existing municipal, unorganized territories and First Nation blue box services to producer responsibility between 2023 and 2025
- making producers responsible for a consistent set of blue box materials and eligible sources beginning in 2026
The blue box regulation puts in place a new framework that:
- makes individual producers responsible for the collection and end-of-life management of the blue box materials they supply to consumers in Ontario
- gives producers control over how they provide blue box collection services to residents, manage collected blue box wastes, and achieve compliance with diversion targets
The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (“the Authority”), a non-Crown and not-for-profit corporation, is responsible for oversight, compliance and enforcement of the regulation.
Effects of consultation
Comments were received however the government is no longer considering this proposal. The ministry considered the comments while developing the new Blue Box Regulation.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
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Contact
John Fox
40 St. Clair Avenue West
8th floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
This notice was originally posted in the old Environmental Registry under number RA03E0018.
Description of regulation
Regulation 357 requires that all carbonated soft drinks be sold in refillable containers. Regulation 340 provided an exemption to this, when certain conditions, including a minimum refillable sales ratio of 30 per cent, were met.
The soft drink container regulations are outdated and unworkable, and there is clear consumer preference for recyclable over refillable containers for carbonated soft drinks. Moreover, the Waste Diversion Act puts a mechanism in place to ensure that waste diversion will be enhanced in Ontario, including diversion of carbonated soft drink containers. The Ministry has said that it will address the soft drink regulations once a sustainable funding mechanism for the Blue Box program is approved.
The regulation is as follows:
ONTARIO REGULATION
made under the
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT
REVOKING VARIOUS REGULATIONS
- Regulation 340 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 is revoked.
- Regulation 357 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 is revoked.
Purpose of regulation
Revoke Regulation 340 ("Containers") and Regulation 357 ("Refillable Containers for Carbonated Soft Drink") under the Environmental Protection Act when the Blue Box funding program is approved.
The Waste Diversion Act puts in place a mechanism to ensure that waste diversion will be enhanced in Ontario, including diversion of carbonated soft drink containers.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
135 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1P5
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from April 30, 2003
to May 30, 2003
Connect with us
Contact
John Fox
40 St. Clair Avenue West
8th floor
Toronto,
ON
M4V 1M2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
0By email
9By mail
0