WHEREAS the amount of single-use plastics leaking into our lakes, rivers, waterways is a growing area of public concern;
AND WHEREAS reducing the waste we generate and reincorporating valuable resources from our waste stream into new goods can reduce GHGs significantly;
AND WHEREAS the transition to full producer responsibility for packaging, paper and paper products is critical to reducing waste, improving recycling and driving better economic and environmental outcomes;
AND WHEREAS the move to a circular economy is a global movement, and the transition of Blue Box programs would go a long way towards this outcome;
AND WHEREAS the Town of Carleton Place is supportive of a timely, seamless and successful transition of Blue Box programs to full financial and operational responsibility by producers of packaging, paper and paper products;
AND WHEREAS the Association of Municipalities of Ontario has requested municipal governments with Blue Box programs to provide an indication of the best date to transition our Blue Box program to full producer responsibility;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Carleton Place would like to transition their Blue Box program to full producer responsibility on January 1, 2023;
AND this decision is based on the following rationale:
The Town of Carleton Place recently entered into a contract for recyclable material collection and processing with the term of the contract expiring on January 1, 2023. The new contract incorporated a significant increase in cost for these services which should not be the burden of the Town’s residents but of producers;
AND the Town of Carleton Place would be interested in providing collection services to Producers should we be able to arrive at mutually agreeable commercial terms;
AND FURTHER THAT any questions regarding this resolution can be directed to Dave Young, Director of Public Works, at [email protected];
AND THAT this Resolution be forwarded to the Honorable Jeff Yurek, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, and to Jamie McGarvey, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.