Excerpt from 'Ontario finalizes plans to overhaul blue box program'

Program puts business ahead of environment: advocates

Meanwhile, environmental groups say the new plan puts business interests ahead of protecting the environment. 

In a joint statement released by the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) and several other environmental advocacy groups, they say the new rules will do little to reduce plastic pollution. 

The new EPR system has "low targets, broad categories and poor reporting requirements," said Emily Alfred, the TEA's waste campaigner.

"That means companies will still be able to churn out mountains of non-recyclable packaging destined for burial or burning and face no consequences."

The statement says nearly two-thirds of Ontario's waste is not covered under the new regulations. It also says Yurek indicated recycling targets were lowered afer consultation with businesses to make it easier for them to achieve these targets. 

"EPR is supposed to make businesses change their practices to reduce throwaway packaging. What we're actually getting here is partial and unaccountable producer responsibility," said Karen Wirsig, the plastics program manager at Environmental Defence.

"Unfortunately, Ontarians can expect little improvement for the environment with the new program."