Ontario approves historic recycling plan

Recycling Today, March, 2004

Ontario's Minister of the Environment Leona Dombrowsky has approved a controversial plan requiring packaged goods makers to pay 50 percent of the local government bill for curbside recycling, triggering weight-based packaging fees by spring, according to State Recycling Laws Update.

Local governments stand to take in $3 million (Canadian) monthly from industry payments, according to the newsletter's report.

There have been interests lining up against the plan, according to State Recycling Laws Update publisher Michele Raymond, including the Packaging Association of Canada, which has formed a coalition to oppose the law, citing concerns that local governments may continue to escalate the costs for which they will seek industry reimbursements.

Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) will soon submit a plan to expand recovery of suitable material from 45 percent to 60 percent by 2008. Once the WDO board approves the fees, manufacturers selling more than $2 million (Canadian) in Ontario will have 90 days to submit reports on 19 materials and to pay their fees.