Tories considering expansion of blue box programs

Thestar.com
March 6, 2019
Robert Benzie

The Progressive Conservatives are looking at expanding Ontario’s blue box programs to include recycling of small and large appliances, power tools, fluorescent lights and other items, the Star has learned.

Environment Minister Rod Phillips is to discuss the province’s proposals for combating litter and diverting waste from landfill sites on Wednesday in Toronto.

A 28-page discussion paper obtained by the Star reveals the Tories have some ambitious plans for getting Ontarians to throw out less rubbish and improve recycling.

“The patchwork of materials collected by blue box programs can be confusing, often resulting in reduced recycling rates,” the document states.

“What is acceptable in a blue box program in one municipality may not be acceptable in another, and for some small or remote municipalities there is no program at all,” it continues.

“This results in non-recyclable materials contaminating diversion streams, costing municipalities money when they sort out unrecyclable materials or sell processed materials of lower quality.”

The government plans to consult with municipalities and industry with an eye toward “transitioning the existing blue box programs to full producer responsibility.

“We are committed to make producers responsible for the waste generated from their products and packaging, and to outline actions to explore how to recover the value of resources in waste,” the document says.

That means discouraging companies from using excess packaging or employing materials that cannot easily by recycled, and providing “clear rules for compostable products and packaging.”

In Toronto, for example, about a quarter of everything collected in residential blue bins ends up in landfill. That’s in part because there are jars and plastics that the city doesn’t currently recycle.

Still, the Tories want to consider adding other things to the blue box.

“We know that more materials can and should be diverted. Potential items which could be designated include: small and large appliances; power tools; rechargeable batteries; fluorescent bulbs and tubes; mattresses; carpets; clothing and other textiles; furniture and other bulky items.”

With the current rate of waste diversion from landfill across Ontario at 30 per cent, the government wants that to rise to 50 per cent in 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.

Those targets are identical to those proposed by the previous Liberal government in 2017.

“The government will lead the transition process. The people of Ontario’s experience with and access to existing services will not be negatively impacted, such as regular curbside collection of blue box materials,” the document says.

“Transition will promote competition on a level playing field in the marketplace.”

Government insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the provisional plan, emphasize that Queen’s Park is open to input from municipalities and industry.

To encourage civic engagement on the need to curb littering, the Tories will promote a province-wide “day of action” for high school students to pick up litter later this year.

The government also hopes to increase awareness of the perils of littering through education and “take strong action on illegal dumping.”