The Ontario government is introducing several programs to reduce the amount of material heading to landfills.
The Ontario government is seeking public comment on new regulations that would help municipalities and industry keep more waste out of landfills and support new waste technologies.
"Our goal is to divert more materials from landfill while encouraging new waste technologies," said Laurel Broten, Ontario’s Environment Minister. "To that end, we are working hard to develop the tools that our municipal and industry partners need to manage their waste in the safest and most environmentally responsible way possible for the 21st century."
The government has released draft regulations, available for a 60-day public comment period, that focus on the following key areas:
Recycling – The ministry is proposing regulations that would create incentives by making it easier for municipalities to increase recycling, and remove barriers that make it costly and/or restrictive for the industry to recycle. These incentives are expected to boost the recycling of batteries, electronics and roof shingles.
Alternative Fuels – The ministry is proposing to remove specific approval requirements for converting certain wastes into alternative fuels in order to keep these wastes out of landfills and put them to beneficial use. All air emission approvals would remain in place
Emerging Waste Technologies – The ministry is proposing that pilot or demonstration projects, including energy-from-waste technologies, be removed from the environmental assessment process and from a mandatory waste hearing for a set period of time. These projects would still be required to adhere to the province’s stringent air emission standards.
The ministry is also seeking comments and suggestions on ways to encourage manufacturers to set up systems to collect or accept spent products, such as computers and other electronics, directly from consumers. This process currently requires a lengthy approval process. By making it quicker and less costly to establish ‘take-back programs’, more materials will be diverted from landfills.
"Ontario’s internationally-recognized blue box is a symbol of diversion and the collective effort that’s been undertaken to keep materials out of landfills," said Broten. "These new initiatives will help us build on the success of existing diversion programs which is good news for the environment and Ontarians."
To view the proposal click on the following link -- Notice Of Proposal For Regulation