Ontario Announced Major Expansion to Blue Box Program

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Ontario government has announced plans to expand its EPR system for printed paper and packaging. The announcement by Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks says that the expansion is expected to commence in 2023.

The proposed expansion will result in standardization of the list of accepted materials across the province. It will add more communities to the collection service. Also, it aims to reduce the financial burden on municipalities. Selected Blue Box programs will transfer the responsibility to producers by 2023. The responsibility will be fully transferred to producers by 2025, said a Ministry news release. The move is result in savings of nearly $129 million for municipalities.

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Additionally, the expansion will add items such as straws and paper plates to the accepted material list. Furthermore, the service will be extended to more facilities, including apartment buildings, municipally run or non-profit long-term care homes and retirement homes, and schools.

Mike Chopowick, CEO of the Ontario Waste Management Association said that the program will ensure better handling of tons of end-of-life products and packaging.