Update on Ontario waste: the good & the bad

Sierra Club Ontario is a member group of Toronto Environmental Alliance. They are doing a great job on provincial and local waste reduction/ management issues.

From TEA:

Ontario's waste diversion strategy is getting back on track!

Early February, the Premier announced plans to improve waste diversion in Ontario.

Importantly, producers must ensure that the products they sell in Ontario are handled and disposed of safely at the end of the product's life. The fees they pay to municipalities and recyclers for hazardous waste programs will now be based on actualcosts, not projected costs.

This will ensure sufficient money to dispose of waste properly, and will protect the environment and consumers.  Read the MOE release here and backgrounder here.

Unfortunately, the Energy Minister Chris Bentley is considering burning solid waste as a potential source of 'green energy'. Burning garbage works against diversion efforts.

TEA, with the Ontario Zero Waste Coalition (OZWC), sent a letter to the Minister explaining why burning garbage is a terrible idea.We know that nearly 2/3rds of the average garbage bin in Toronto is still made up of recyclables and organics - we need to focus on diversion and not waste these resources!  Read the OZWC press release here.

TEA will continue to push for the best waste reduction and diversion programs in Toronto and Ontario!