Extended Producer Responsibility: Industry's Role in Waste Reduction

Who's mess is it anyway? Garbage falls into two broad categories: organic waste and products and packages that can't easily be reused or recycled. The organic stuff should be composted and Toronto is moving in that direction with the Green Bin program. Interestingly this fraction of our garbage hasn't increased much on a per person basis in a long time. It's the products and packaging fraction that keeps growing.

Many countries are introducing Extended Producer Responsibility laws to deal with this vexing second fraction. The idea is simple: if you put a product or package on the market it is your responsibility to keep it out of the landfill. The producer's responsibility extends past when the consumer buys a product. The reason is simple too: we didn't decide that entire computers had to be thrown out and replaced every three years because one tiny chip has changed, nor did we decide to shave some pennies by having kids toys come in non-recyclable packages. If the people who do make these choices have to pay for their decisions, the will have an incentive to make things last and avoid using materials that can't be reused or recycled.

The best example of a producer taking responsibility is the Beer Store. Just about every bottle sold comes back, is washed and reused. The whole distribution system is built around getting bottles back. Every province except Ontario and Manitoba has a similar deposit system for other pop containers, some provinces have take back regulations for used paint cans, used motor oil containers, batteries, and more.

It's time for the province of Ontario to get serious about reducing waste. Write to Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky and tell her you want deposit style regulations here in Ontario.

Minister Leona Dombrowsky
135 St. Clair Ave. W.
14th floor
Tel: (416) 314-6378
Fax: (416) 314-6396
Fax: (416) 314-6409