Changes are coming to recycling programs in Ontario. The transition to the new program starts in July and will be introduced to all municipalities over the next three years. As the first regions prepare to adopt the new program, there’s an important question on my mind: Will privatization of recycling solve our waste woes?

First, we’ll look at the history of recycling programs in Ontario, and the changes that are coming. Then, some recycling tips to keep in mind until the new program comes to your area.

This post was originally published in March 2020 as “Blue box, green bin or garbage? There’s an app for that!”

History of recycling in Ontario

Did you know that the first Blue Box recycling program was invented right here in Waterloo Region?

Nyle Ludolph spearheaded a pilot project in Kitchener in 1981. After a successful pilot, the program expanded city-wide by 1983. Over 40 years later, residents of Ontario, and beyond, commonly use blue boxes for recycling. These days, it’s hard to imagine garbage day without those bright blue boxes on the side of the road.

What’s changing?

Presently, each municipality manages their own recycling program. One of the challenges is that each municipality also has different guidelines on what you can and can’t put in your blue box. This leads to confusion and misinformation.

The goal of the changes is to shift responsibility for recycling to the companies that produce the waste. After the new program is fully implemented, an industry-led non-profit group called Circular Materials will pay for and manage blue box collection in all municipalities in Ontario. This organization represents many brands you know well: McDonald’s, Loblaws, Costco, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Nestle and more.

This is a step in the right direction. Ultimately, the only way to reduce waste is to put the burden of responsibility on the companies that create the waste in the first place. This program aims to do just that. The Ontario government claims this change will promote innovation, reduce waste and save taxpayers money.

Will privatization really make a difference?

Despite the government’s claims, I admit to a little skepticism. However, I became more hopeful when I learned that Circular Materials already manages recycling programs in British Columbia where, over time, they have expanded the materials accepted in recycling bins and at waste depots. Hopefully, we’ll soon have programs like RecycleBC’s candy wrapper and chip bag program here in Ontario too. I’d love to indulge in some guilt-free treats.

If nothing else, consistency across the province will increase understanding, and reduce the confusion and misinformation that often leads people to shun recycling.

If you live in Ottawa, Toronto or London, your city will be the first to move to the new program in July, 2023. Here in Waterloo Region, we’ll have to wait until March, 2024. Until then, here are some myths, tips and tricks.

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Recycling tips and tricks

I’ve been a faithful recycler for my whole adult life. Taking a bit of time to sort recyclables really isn’t a big effort which always makes me wonder why some people can’t be bothered with recycling. Maybe it’s just laziness, or it could be related to false information about what happens to the stuff we put in our blue box.

Ask the Waste Whiz

Following the introduction of the green bin program in Waterloo Region in 2006, sorting waste got a little more complicated. I often find myself questioning if an item should go the green bin, the blue box, or if it’s just plain garbage. 

Luckily, there are some great online resources to answer these questions. In Waterloo Region, check out www.regionofwaterloo.ca/waste. You’ll see “Ask the Waste Whiz!” at the top of the page. Search for the item you’re wondering about and it will tell you how to dispose of it!

I learned from the Waste Whiz that these things aren’t recyclable in our local blue box program.

• Pouch style plastic bags. The kind that stand up.
• Mesh produce bags
• Crinkly bags like the kind used for chips, pasta and cereal.
• Bags that have held meat or cheese
• Candy wrappers and granola bar wrappers
• Cardboard juice cans—you need to separate the cardboard from the metal tops and recycle each separately.
• Glassware
• Foil wrapping paper
• Plastic cutlery
• Broken glass
• And, let’s not forget the evil Styrofoam.

Download the Waste Whiz app

In addition, there’s a handy Waste Whiz app for your smartphone or tablet. It includes some great features:

• Garbage day reminders. Enter your address and the app will notify you each week what’s on the schedule for waste collection. You can even embed the calendar into your Outlook, Google or iCal calendar.
• Waste Whiz. Type in the name of an item. The app will tell you if it belongs in the green bin, blue box, garbage, or if it is an item that requires special handling.
• Rethink Waste—a fun waste sorting game to test your knowledge.

Plus, you can use the app to report problems with waste collection in your neighbourhood.

If you live outside Waterloo Region, check with your municipality to see if they have something similar. Recycle Coach is another popular app used in some areas of the United States.

Busting the myths

Despite all the resources that are available, there’s still a lot of incorrect information out there. The Region of Waterloo’s Myths versus Facts brochure clears up some of the myths. Here are some key learnings.

Myth: Everything in my blue box just ends up in the landfill.

Fact: Over 90% of our blue box material in Waterloo Region gets recycled.

Myth: Blue box contents are all shipped overseas and thrown out anyway.

Fact: Waterloo Region doesn’t send any recyclables overseas. Our recyclables are usually handled in Ontario, Quebec or the Northeastern U.S.

Myth: I don’t need to sort. It’s no big deal if I throw everything together. 

Fact: Processors require contamination-free materials. Not sorting, or including non-recyclable materials, increases the chance of the batch being rejected by the processor.

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I’m sure Nyle Ludolph had no idea what he was starting all those years ago. Today, our regional waste sorting facility bears his name. A fitting honour for a true waste reduction pioneer who was years ahead of his time.

What are your thoughts on the privatization of recycling? Is it a step in the right direction to solve our waste issues? Tell me your thoughts below.