[greenyes] Ontario Blue Box plan approved

[Michele Raymond <michele@no.address>]

Dear Greenyesers:

Below is a release on the newly-approved Ontario "Blue Box" plan. Reporting 
I have seen on it so far has not been very balanced.
I track EPR policy globally, and I  don't think it provides the right 
incentives, but it is good news for Canadian local governments.

Ontario Approves Historic Plan to Charge Industry for Recycling;
New Packaging Fees to Begin Spring 2004

In a precedent-setting move, Ontario's new Minister of the Environment has 
approved a controversial plan that will require packaged goods makers to 
ante up for 50% the local government bill for curbside recycling, which 
will trigger weight-based packaging fees by spring of 2004,  according to 
State Recycling Laws Update, a newsletter covering  North American 
recycling policy (http://www.raymond.com).

The plan, which was submitted in February 2003, was delayed because of 
complaints from industry over the cost and complexity of the plan, and 
because of elections for a new government in October. Approval of the plan, 
required under Bill 90 approved in 2002, is a victory for local 
governments, which stand to take in $3 million per month (CDN) from 
industry payments.

Quebec has legislation in place, and is set to copy Ontario as soon as the 
regulation is settled.

"Approval of this plan does set a new precedent in the area of 'producer 
responsibility' legislation worldwide," comments SRLU publisher Michele 
Raymond, head of Raymond Communications. "There is some concern from 
industry that the idea will spread to other governments.  This is the first 
time in North America that manufacturers will have to weigh their packaging 
and calculate fees."

The new government has asked the Waste Diversion Ontario to submit by 
March, a plan to expand recovery of material suitable for blue box from the 
current 45 per cent to 60 per cent by 2008.

While the plan has been supported by certain beverage companies and a few 
retailers, the Packaging Association of Canada has formed a new coalition 
to fight the law. The coalition charges that there is no cap on what local 
governments will consider their "costs," which have doubled two times so 
far, and that the way the law has been interpreted, some packaging 
suppliers will have their profits wiped out.

Once the WDO board approves new fees, manufacturers selling more than $2 
million Canadian in Ontario will have 90 days to submit reports on 19 
materials and pay their fees.

The issue will be covered extensively in State Recycling Laws Update, and 
will be discussed at the next Take it Back conference, to be held March 
1-3, 2004 near San Francisco.  Information: http://www.raymond.com

Contact:  Michele Raymond       301 345-4237 (w)  301-879-0628 
(Home)   Cell: 240-472-5676