Chatham-Kent councillors are voicing their opposition to proposed amendments to Ontario’s Blue Box program and the legislation that governs it.
At Monday’s meeting, council voted unanimously in favour of submitting a formal response to the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA) and Blue Box Regulation, citing serious concerns about the impact on local businesses and recycling access in the municipality.
The RRCEA, passed in 2016, was designed to improve Ontario’s waste management system by increasing diversion and reducing landfill use.
In 2024, Chatham-Kent opted out of curbside recycling collection, saving the municipality $500,000. While Waste Connections of Canada (WCC) remained the service provider, they discontinued collection for non-eligible sources—primarily industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) users.
In their report, municipal staff noted that municipalities have been advocating for ICI sources to be included under the program for the past two years. They wrote, “Institutions and small businesses are the most impacted, since they are likely unable to bear the financial burden of a separate collection and processing system.”
Key Amendments Affecting Chatham-Kent:
- Delaying enforcement of recovery targets by five years, changing it from 2026 to 2031
- Removing the requirement to provide collection service to multi-residential buildings, schools, and long-term care/retirement homes that weren’t serviced before January 1, 2024
- Eliminating public space recycling and beverage container collection away from the curb
- Making promotional and educational materials optional or “by request”
- Relaxing French language requirements for promotional materials
In their presentation to council, staff warned that the proposed amendments are “seen as tools that prioritize the profit of the private sector at the expense of environmental sustainability, service equity, and financial impacts to municipal governments.”
They also cautioned that users who are now deemed ineligible may begin placing recyclable materials in the garbage, which would increase landfill and disposal costs for the municipality.
Council members agreed Monday that the failure of the Blue Box system could ultimately have an economic impact on local taxpayers.