The president of the Bluewater Recycling Association says some changes are coming to the Blue Box program in the next few years.
Francis Veilleux said at this point, the cost of the Blue Box program is being shared between producers and the municipalities that use the program. And the municipal share is passed on to residents on their property tax.
Veilleux said over the course of three years, starting in 2023, the producers will assume full responsibility for the cost of the program.
“Currently municipalities are responsible for the Blue Box, they share the cost with producers, but over the course of those three years, the producers will slowly take over all the programs so that by the end of 2025, they'll be 100 per cent responsible for the programs in Ontario.”
Veilleux said homeowners are currently paying about $50 or $60 a year for the Blue Box program.
Veilleux said the hope is that the shift of cost to the producers will encourage some efficiencies in packaging and reduce the amount that has to be recycled as well as create some consistencies in what is recyclable.
“They're hoping to get some efficiencies out of that. Right now it's up to every municipality in Ontario to decide which materials are collected and marketed and by making it the producers' responsibility across the entire province, the intent is to go to one list of acceptable materials everywhere in Ontario.”
So whether you're at home, at work or at school the same materials are recyclable across the province.
Veilleux added some of the packaging that seems excessive is used because it extends the shelf life of the product, which in the end reduces waste in a different way.
