York Region’s waste reduction efforts continue to be strong
York.ca
July 9, 2019
York Regional continues to take a full-circle approach when it comes to addressing the four Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle and recover) and zero in on long-term waste reduction efforts.
York Region’s SM4RT Living Plan sets direction for waste management policy and programs, with a focus on waste reduction and continuous improvement of services in the integrated waste management system for the next 25 to 40 years.
The Balanced Scorecard report is updated annually and measures progress on programs delivered as part of the SM4RT Living Plan.
The report highlights initiatives in the following areas:
- Products and packaging: Advocating the province to make producers fully responsible for collecting and recycling their products and packaging. This will drive producers to make better packaging and product designs that are recyclable, as well as generate more recycling markets to turn these items into new products.
- Influence consumer choices: Providing residents with opportunities for reuse and repair through innovative programs such as repair cafés, lending libraries, curbside giveaway days and textile diversion.
- Increasing diversion through recycling and composting: Providing convenient, easily accessible recycling programs, generating energy and reclaiming resources such as metals from waste, and increasing the opportunities for recycled material to become new products and packaging. The Region also strongly supports a deposit return program for single use-plastic, aluminum and metal drink containers to augment the curbside Blue Box program.
York Region will continue to update and refine the initiatives of the SM4RT Living plan to ensure it is well-aligned with the province’s shift towards a circular economy.
