The cost of recycling will now go to the companies who make recyclable products. In June of 2021, the Ontario Government announced new regulations for the Blue Box Program. Municipalities have been taking care of the cost and sharing it with producers, but producers will now be flipping the bill, although they may not have the equipment to collect says President of Bluewater Recycling Association Francis Veilleux.
Veilleux says by December 2025, a 3rd of the Province will be converted. The Municipalities in our area are set to convert on April 1st, 2024. Producers have sent proposal requests to service providers for collection, receiving facilities and processing facilities. Lambton-Middlesex has accepted a proposal. The deal will begin on April 1st, 2024. Veilleux says residents do not need to worry about their blue box and waste collection days or methods for a long time.
By 2026, producers will have full control of the system by then. The idea is to keep everything as it is now, but it is possible you could see changes to the way you collect recyclables and dispose of them. This seems like a long and costly process. The goal is to not have service disruptions to residents anywhere. Now that the cost is going to producers and not Municipalities, it could save rate payers some money. How the Municipalities will go about that cost is up to them. Veilleux says the Blue Water recycling Association represents the Municipalities it serves and they work on behalf of the residents. He says in the end, the transition should be seamless.
written by: K. Close
