Minister's Speech

Remarks prepared for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Ontario Waste Management Association
Annual General Meeting

February 26, 2008
6:30 P.M.

(Check against delivery)

Thank you for that kind introduction.

I’m glad to be here this evening.

Last year I attended your Annual General Meeting — it was one of my first speaking opportunities in my role as Minister of the Environment.

I outlined for you how we planned to move forward on waste diversion — a key environmental priority for our government.
 
So, I’m glad to be invited back to speak to you this evening.

In the past year, I’ve learned a lot about this business.

I’ve met with representatives of your association back in the summer, I’ve had meetings with your industry and I’ve visited a number of facilities across the province.

Back in September, for example, I had an opportunity to meet with your incoming Chair, Jim Graham when I attended the opening of his construction and demolition recycling facility – TRY RECYCLING – in London, Ontario.

I see this evening as an opportunity to outline some of our challenges and some of the opportunities that lie ahead of us, particularly through the Waste Diversion Act review that is currently underway.

I think it begins with us taking a clear look at the waste situation here in Ontario.

Let me state it in no uncertain terms.

We’ve got a serious problem.

Ontarians generate more waste per person than almost anywhere else. And too much of it is ending up in landfill sites.

There is some positive news — on residential waste, for example, the Blue Box has captured more than 60 per cent of designated wastes.

But, even though we’ve made progress, we still don’t recycle nearly enough.

So, the overall residential diversion rate is up, but it’s only about 38 per cent.

Then, there’s the IC&I sector…

I think we all recognize that this sector remains one of our greatest challenges.

At roughly 12 per cent, it’s clear that IC&I diversion rates are abysmal.

We continue to make industries and businesses aware of their obligations under the 3Rs regulations, but there has been little or no change here.

Increasing IC&I diversion will require a change in attitude from everyone involved.

For the longest time, we haven’t managed our wastes within our own borders. 
It’s been too easy to ship it off to other places. That’s got to change.

So, that sums up where we’ve been for some time and why things have to change.

And, even though it’s not a pretty picture, we have some reason to be optimistic.
  
We have made some recent progress.

Recent Progress

I recently took part in the launch of Phase I of the Municipal Hazardous and Special Wastes program.

This is a good example of extended producer responsibility — where a product and its packaging remain the responsibility of the producer — and it’s helping make it more convenient for Ontarians to reduce, reuse and recycle responsibly.
 
And it’s keeping paints, solvents, batteries, oil filters, and antifreeze out of our landfills — or from going down the drain.

We are also making progress in properly managing waste electronics — our e-waste program will kick off at the beginning of April.

Currently, these programs are expanding as new phases are being developed both for MHSW and waste electronics.

We’re also moving forward on dealing with the approximately 12 million waste tires we currently generate every year — I expect to receive that plan tomorrow from WDO.

Waste Diversion Act Review

While we have focussed on getting some of the most problematic materials out of our environment, it is clear we need to do more.

That is why the Waste Diversion Act review is so critical.  We need to get the core architecture right.

We need to see how we can use this tool more effectively to get us where we want and need to be in Ontario.

Our waste framework in Ontario has to reflect new realities and new attitudes towards waste — with particular focus on how to reduce waste.

I understand from my staff that this review is generating a lot of discussion — not all of it happy.

And, you will know that I also requested that Waste Diversion Ontario submit recommendations on how to improve the Blue Box Program Plan.

I know that the WDO has posted a draft set of recommendations on their website for additional consultation and it includes several thoughtful recommendations all based on the principle of extended producer responsibility.

Of course, this is a draft, but even at this stage I am happy with the direction that they have set.

I look forward to receiving their final report in about a month’s time.

It’s clear that the time for more bold action is needed to get us to the next level of achievement in recycling.

Change is not something we need to fear.  Instead, we need to look at how we can shape it for everyone’s benefit. 

In fact, since change is inevitable, we need to look for the opportunities it holds.

Successful Jurisdictions

It’s been far too easy to do it the wrong way for far too long.

In fact, because we live in such a large sprawling country with a lot of so-called wide open spaces, it’s been easy for us to ignore the problem.

But in smaller places, like the Netherlands, Japan or Germany, land is at a premium.  And it doesn’t go to waste.

In the Netherlands, for example, they set ambitious waste diversion targets for the construction and demolition sector.  By 2000, 51 per cent of C&D wastes and 64 per cent of industrial wastes were being recycled.

They are now working towards an 83 per cent recycling and three per cent disposal to landfill goal for 2012.

So, it can be done.  And we fully intend for Ontario to join these more progressive jurisdictions.

Zero Waste Philosophy

We need to shift from a culture of disposal to a culture of zero waste.

It’s all about looking at waste in a new way.

As the author Bill McDonough says “we must eliminate the concept of waste.”

That means recognizing the value of raw materials and the energy used to make products and to continue to value these resources after we are done with the “first generation” product.

We need to start properly valuing the inherent resources in the waste stream —no matter what sector you’re talking about.

And we need to use that value to build, support and enhance innovations that will drive a new green sustainable economy.

Going from “cradle to cradle” reduces our need for raw materials and conserves resources — reduces harmful greenhouse gases, reduces energy costs for extraction and processing, saves money and adds to the bottom line.

The ideas behind zero waste and extended producer responsibility are by no means revolutionary or out of reach.

We are seeing major companies like Apple Computer designing their products for the environment by incorporating more recyclable materials, fewer hazardous components and introducing the first take-back program in Germany in 1995.   

I’m pleased to say at the recent meeting of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment that was held in Whitehorse, the council agreed to consult on standards for reducing packaging — all based on the principle of extended producer responsibility. It’s clear that all governments are taking this very seriously and recognizing that change is inevitable.

As Chair of the CCME, I look forward to championing this initiative in the coming year…and I’m eager to hear from industry about how best to make the leap forward.

The opportunities are there.

We are seeing success stories right here in Ontario, with companies like TRY recycling out in London.

I also want to recognize that the waste management industry was instrumental in helping Exhibition Place, the Metro Convention Centre and the Burlington RibFest move towards zero-waste.

Building on the concept of zero waste we will help drive our province’s transformation to a greener economy as well as healthier, more sustainable communities.

Building a New Green Economy

By making Ontario part of this green transformation we are going to create a stronger, more innovative and prosperous economy and new jobs for Ontarians.

Better than most, you know this is as true of waste management as it is with any other business. 

Your efforts will be key to finding new business opportunities in the growing green economy … and I know that some of you, and certainly the OWMA directly, have rolled up their sleeves and worked cooperatively with my ministry over the past few months.

We are creating momentum and we are going to keep building on it to go even further toward a zero waste future.

Together, with you as our valued partners, I know we can build stronger, healthier communities, a cleaner environment and a more prosperous and successful life for everyone in Ontario.

Before I close, I want to look ahead to a year from now and where I would like us to be.

First, Phase I of the Waste Electronics program will be operational in just a few short weeks.

I expect over the next year that we will be well on our way to diverting tens of thousands of tonnes of e-waste from our landfills.

The Phase II program plan will be submitted later this summer and we expect to move forward quickly with it as well.

Next, I expect that the tires plan, which I will receive tomorrow from WDO, will be fully operational and diverting millions of used tires to into value-added recycled products.

I further expect that we will receive the next phase of the MHSW and waste electronics plans in the summer with implementation about a year later.

This will mean more options for consumers to recycle a greatly expanded range of wastes and Ontario will be a miles ahead of any other province in the country

Finally, I would expect that we will be considering substantial improvements to the Waste Diversion Act and new direction on the Blue Box Program Plan.

I also expect that we will begin to make serious progress when it comes to IC&I wastes.

I am determined to see that improvements in waste diversion are brought about.

I believe that the public is demanding this and is, in many ways, far ahead of government in terms of their desires and expectations.

We’ve seen this in their responses to these recent diversion programs. If there was one comment that I heard time and again that stood out for me in reaction to the MHSW plan, it’s this: “It’s about time. It’s about time that we had a program that makes producers more responsible for the wastes they generate.”

I also think that it is about time and that, a year from now, we will be that much further along in realizing our goal of “zero waste.”

Along the way, I look forward to continuing to work with you and your association to bring forward the best ideas on how to get there.

Thank you very much for your time tonight.

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