City Council Shows Support for Region’s Efforts to Hold Businesses Responsible for Waste

City Council passed a motion supporting the Region of Peel’s efforts to change provincial legislation on how Ontario businesses dispose of waste. Many municipalities across the province are looking to have the existing Waste Diversion Act amended to include tighter restrictions on individual waste producers.

“As municipal leaders, we want to show our support and advocate for waste reduction. That’s why we are standing behind this request for change at the provincial level,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Municipalities across Ontario, including Mississauga, do not have control over the waste created by businesses. Yet, we’re legally required to provide recycling for citizens and use tax dollars to pay for it.”

If the new Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) legislation is introduced, it would ensure those creating waste would be entirely responsible for the end-of-life costs associated with waste production. The IPR system would also provide businesses with the flexibility to determine how their individual waste plans are designed and implemented.

“Businesses need to be accountable for how they dispose of their waste,” said Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney, chair of the Environmental Action Committee. “Ontario businesses producing products and packaging are not being held responsible for what happens when those products are disposed of. We need to have a better system in place that promotes stronger recycling targets, standards and enforcement that deter unnecessary waste.”

IPR would provide considerable savings to Mississauga residents while helping to grow the local economy. Potential outcomes from updating the system can include higher waste diversion rates and better clarity for consumers about their purchases.

For more information on waste management in Mississauga, visit the peelregion.ca/pw/waste/.

Background:

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has committed to replacing the current waste diversion legislation; however, has not yet introduced replacement legislation to the legislature.

Increased recycling and reclamation could add 13,000 good, high-quality jobs in Ontario and contribute more than $1.5 billion every year to Ontario’s economy.