Media Backgrounder

For immediate release
December 22, 2003

BLUE BOX PROGRAM PLAN

The Blue Box Program Plan supports the McGuinty government’s priority commitment to increase support to diversion programs to help municipalities achieve a 60 per cent waste diversion rate from landfills within five years.

Municipalities will continue to operate the blue box recycling system but for the first time industry will pay 50 per cent of municipal blue box costs. Beginning in early 2004, Stewardship Ontario will collect fees from brand owners and importers. It is expected that approximately $3 million per month will flow from industry to municipalities during 2004, beginning early in the year. Afterwards, fees will be set annually. In the meantime, $5 million from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario – as part of an annual five-year commitment – will be provided to the WDO for payment to municipalities and for its administrative costs.

Under the plan, it is projected that 50 per cent of blue box wastes will be diverted by the end of 2006. Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky has formally requested Waste Diversion Ontario to undertake more work to expand the recovery of blue box materials to 60 per cent by 2008.

Glass, metal, paper, plastic, textiles or any combination of them are prescribed as blue box waste by Minister’s Regulation O. Reg. 273/02.

The plan, developed by Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) and Stewardship Ontario, an industry funding organization, is designed to ensure the ongoing development and operation of Ontario’s blue box recycling system. It outlines specifics about diverting blue box wastes and how industry will pay for half the net costs of municipal blue box programs. It details how funding will be collected from industry and distributed to municipalities, and used to pay program costs and for making the overall recycling system more efficient and effective, and for market development, promotion and education.

Stewardship Ontario has been designated as the Industry Funding Organization (IFO) for the blue box program. WDO and Stewardship Ontario are responsible for implementing the program. Stewardship Ontario is made up of ‘industry stewards’– brand owners or first importers of products that are the source of blue box wastes.

Waste Diversion Ontario, created by the Waste Diversion Act in June 2002, is a permanent, non-Crown corporation made up of industry, municipal, non-government and government representatives.

To obtain a copy of the Blue Box Program Plan, go to the MOE website (www.ene.gov.gov.ca), Waste Diversion Ontario’s website (www.wdo.ca) or Stewardship Ontario’s website (www.stewardshipontario.ca.)

A copy of the plan can also be obtained from Waste Diversion Ontario at (416) 226-5113 or Stewardship Ontario at 416-594-3456 or 1-888-277-2762.

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