News & Notices
Ontario’s Blue Box Program is changing how it works. Instead of the government handling recycling, producers of blue box materials (like plastic bottles and cardboard boxes) will now be fully financially and operationally responsible for collecting, processing, and recycling these materials. This is a transition called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA) and upheld by Ontario Regulation 391/21: Blue Box.
Producers of blue box materials (like plastic water bottles and cardboard boxes) will now be financially and operationally responsible for the collection, processing, and recycling of these materials. With this transition, producers can work with Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to meet their obligations. However, this new model only covers materials from eligible residential sources, excluding those from industrial, commercial, or institutional sources (there are some exceptions to this).
1) What is considered an Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional (ICI) property?
An Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional (ICI) property is any property not designated as residential according to Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) codes. However, under the new regulation, elementary and secondary schools, as well as nonprofit long-term care facilities will continue to be eligible for recycling services.
ICI properties include, but are not limited to the following: • All private sector businesses (including Downtown core businesses) • Place of worship • Daycares • Campgrounds (without households) • Public facing and internal areas of municipal buildings/facilities (e.g., libraries, arenas) • Not-for-profit organizations (e.g., shelters, foodbanks).
2) How does this affect my business?
For ineligible properties: • You will need to arrange for private recycling collection services.
3) Why are ICI properties considered ineligible by the Province?
Waste collection (i.e., waste and recycling) from ICI locations has never been mandated for municipalities in Ontario. Under the new regulations, ICI properties are not considered eligible for recycling services.
4) Why can’t The Municipality continue collecting recycling from all ICI locations?
All municipalities in Ontario, including Tweed will be out of the recycling business as part of the Transition to Extended Producer Responsibility. Under the new regulations, the potential costs to Tweed to manage recycling for all ICI properties across the Municipality is not viable.
5) What are my options for disposing of the recycling generated from my business
Ineligible properties can choose to: • Contract a private contractor to collect the recycling. The properties’ occupants, owners, or managers can make private arrangements to collect and process their recycling. There are service providers and local businesses that have been preparing for this transition and are ready to offer their services. We encourage you to reach out, and find a service provider that best meets your needs
6) I own/manage an apartment building; will it be impacted by this change?
Apartment buildings that are currently receiving curbside collection will continue to receive curbside recycling collection through Circular Materials.
7) What do I do with my business’s recycling boxes?
The municipality will not retrieve any recycling boxes. You may repurpose the boxes as you wish.
8) Are there any subsidies available for businesses as a result of this change?
Currently, there are no subsidies available. .
9) Who do I contact at the provincial level to advocate against this change?
You can always connect with your local MPP Ric Bresee at 613-354-3031. If you are part of an industry organization, ask your board of directors for support by writing to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, for example.
10) Will The Municipality still collect garbage?
The Municipality will continue to provide curbside garbage collection to areas that currently receive this service. Garbage collection is not impacted by this new regulation and remains unchanged.
11) Why are we transitioning to the Blue Box Program?
The Ontario Government legislated changes to the Blue Box Regulation in an effort to promote a more circular economy, where materials can be collected, recycled, and reused into new products and packaging. Having producers be entirely responsible for their products in the post-consumer phase will aid in creating less overall waste, diverting waste from landfills, and mitigating environmental impacts.
12) What is a circular economy? A circular economy is an economic system that moves away from a make-use-dispose model. Instead, it focuses on recycling and reusing materials to extend the lifecycle of products and eliminating waste. In circular economy the use of raw materials is minimized, the lifecycle of materials and resources are maximized, and waste generation and packaging are minimized. This approach aims to create a sustainable cycle where materials are continuously reused and repurposed, reducing environmental impact and promoting resource efficiency.
13) What is Extended Producer Responsibility?
Before the transition, municipalities and producers shared the cost of collecting and processing recyclable materials equally (a 50-50 model). Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) changes this by making producers of Blue Box materials (i.e., Coca-Cola, Amazon, Walmart, etc.) fully responsible for the entire lifecycle of the materials they produce. Under EPR, producers are accountable for the logistics and financial aspects of their product packaging and, ultimately, helping to in reduce waste and promote recycling.
