Toronto Environmental Alliance

Ontario wants companies to pay the full cost of municipal blue box programs. (CBC)

April 22, 2010
cbcnews

Ontario is planning to change the way residential blue box programs are paid for in the province.

Right now homeowners split the cost evenly with the companies that produce much of the recyclables.

But the province wants the companies that produce the packaging — the cardboard, plastic wrapping and polystyrene foam — to foot the entire bill.

"We want the producers of the various materials [to be] responsible for the ultimate disposal and recycling of it," said Environment Minister John Gerretsen. "Totally financially responsible."

The thinking behind the change is that if companies have to pay for the disposal they might reduce the amount of packaging they use for various products.

Heather Marshall of the Toronto Environmental Alliance says the change is a worthwhile one.

"It's going to be good for the environment," she said.

Although taxpayers seem to like Gerretsen's plan there's no guarantee solid waste bills will go down.

Municipalities could simply put the money they already collect into other programs – and manufacturers say they'll have to pass on the extra costs to consumers.

As published here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/04/22/blue-box.html