In brief : the Waste Diversion Organization - a partnership between industry, municipalities and the province

3 Pages·1999·0.58 MB·English

CA2ON
EV
Drief
in November
Ontario
1999
Ministry of the Envi ronment programs and initiatives
The Waste Diversion Organization
—
A partnership between industry,
municipalities and the province
A n agreement has been reached by indus- • create a Blue Box efficiency program — as
try, municipal and provincial partners to much as $2 million will be provided to
form a voluntar)ç one-year Waste Diversion improve the effectiveness and efficiency of
On November 3, Organization (WDO). The WDO — estab- Blue Box programs; and
1999, Environment lished with a commitment of $1 4.5 million • implement a program to provide munici-
from its members brings together private
Minister Tony — palities with $1 million worth of free
sector and government partners to develop,
Cement announced a advertising space in daily newspapers to
fund and implement municipal waste diver-
partnership between inform the public about waste manage.-
sion activities.
ment activities.
the province, munici-
A key objective of the organization is to
polities and industry deliver a sustainable funding plan for the The Waste Diversion Organization's review
to establish a Waste Blue Box program and other waste diversion of long-term issues will include the develop-
Diversion initiatives ment of options for a sustainable funding
formula to cover up to 50 per cent of net
Organization. The
The Waste Diversion operating costs for municipal Blue Box pro-
organization will help
Organization's Mandate grams, as well as to continue the programs
fund municipal Blue
described above.
Box and other waste Under the agreement, the Waste Diversion
The agreement also calls for the organiza-
diversion programs. Organization will:
tion to design a special household waste
• fund Blue Box glass costs — the WDO will management program, including options for
provide a total of $8 million to help its funding.
municipalities cover the costs of recycling
wine and liquor glass containers in 1999 Membership
and 2000 (this continues the $4 million
The members of the Waste Diversion
given to municipalities in March 999 by
1 Organization are drawn from:
the Uquor Control Board of Ontario);
• the food and consumer product sectors,
• earmark $2 million toward the diversion with four members, including the Chair
of organic wastes the majority of fund-
— (this sector will contribute as much as $4
ing will assist municipalities with the
million to the WDO through its associa-
establishment of organic waste diversion
tion, Corporations Supporting Recycling);
systems, including facilities;
• the Association of Municipalities of
• earmark $1 million to establish an addi- Ontario, with four members;
tional five to 10 depots for municipal spe-
• the Canadian Newspaper Association,
cial household wastes (sometimes referred
to as household hazardous wastes); with one member (CNA is providing the
$1 million advertising program);
Ministry of the Environment I
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In Brief
• the Canadian Paint and Coatings While Blue Box programs and other 3Rs
Association and the Canadian activities are producing significant results,
Manufacturers of Chemical Specialties several challenges remain, including:
Association, with one joint member • ensuring the long-term financial sustain-
(the two groups are providing a total of ability of Blue Box programs and other
$500,000); waste diversion initiatives;
• the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, with • increasing the diversion of organic materi-
one member (the LCBO is contributing als that are not being composted through
$9 million); backyard and centralized composting; and
• the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO), • improving upon the 6,000 tonnes of
with one member; and household hazardous wastes that are
• the Ministry of the Environment, with one being diverted by existing municipal
non-voting member. depot programs.
The ministry, which is represented by its
For more information, please contact:
deputy minister, has an advisory role in the
Ministry of the Environment
organization. The other 12 members have
Waste Management Policy Branch
one vote in WDO decisions, with the excep-
1 35 St. Clair Ave. W.
tion of the Chair, who has two votes. 7th floor
The 3Rs in Ontario TTeol:r o(n4t1o6 )O N31 4M-441V7 11 P5
The 3Rs — reduce, reuse and recycle — are Fax: [phone]
or
alive and well in Ontario.
Public Information Centre
Ontario's goal is to reduce the amount of 135 St. Clair Ave. W.
waste sent for disposal by 50 per cent, com- 1st floor
pared with 1 987. By 1 997, Ontarians had Toronto ON M4V 1 PS
reduced their wastes by 35 per cent. Tel: [phone]
Here is a partial-list of 3Rs accomplish- Toll free in Ontario 1-800-565-4923
Fax: (416) 325-3159
ments that have been made in Ontario
Internet: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca
between 1994 and 1998:
• municipalities increased their waste diver-
sion by 45 per cent from 860,000
tonnes to more than .25 million tonnes;
1
• the backyard and central composting of
organic materials has increased by 57 per
cent from 300,000 tonnes to 470,000
—
tonnes (central composting led the way,
growing by 95 per cent); and
• materials collected through Blue Box pro-
grams, which account for a little more
than 50 per cent of municipal waste
diverted from disposaL have increased by
43 per cent from 450,000 tonnes to
—
650,000 tonnes.
0
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