Industry is supposed to reimburse local governments for 50% of the cost of the blue box recycling program, but the previously approved fee structure only covered the period through June 30, ’04.
New proposals by Stewardship Ontario show increases in fees ranging from 18% up to a whopping 800% for the second half of ’04, Raymond points out. For example, the fees for corrugated containers are predicted to be 56% higher, even though the material has the highest recycling rate of any paper packaging.
The Packaging Assn. of Canada has formed a coalition to pressure the government agencies and legislature to change the Waste Diversion Act, known as Bill 90.