Be it resolved that Council receive Staff Report PW2020-031 for information; and
Whereas the amount of single-use plastics leaking into our lakes, rivers, waterways is a growing area of public concern; and
Whereas reducing the waste we generate and reincorporating valuable resources from our waste stream into new goods can reduce GHGs significantly; and
Whereas the transition to full producer responsibility for packaging, paper and paper products is a critical to reducing waste, improving recycling and driving better economic and environmental outcomes; and
Whereas the move to a circular economy is a global movement, and that the transition of Blue Box programs would go a long way toward this outcome; and
Whereas the Township of Southgate is supportive of a timely, seamless and successful transition of Blue Box programs to full financial and operational responsibility by producers of packaging, paper and paper products; and
Whereas the Association of Municipalities of Ontario has requested municipal governments with Blue Box programs to provide an indication of the best date to transition our Blue Box program to full producer responsibility,
Now Therefore Be it Resolved That the Township of Southgate would like to transition their Blue Box program to full producer responsibility between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023; and
That this decision is based on the following rationale:
1. As the Township is the operator of the Blue Box program and owner of all assets related to the collection and transfer of Blue Box materials; and
2. The Township of Southgate has no formal written or executed processing contract for Blue Box materials and the Township has the ability to plan to transition at the earliest opportunity; and
That the Township of Southgate would be interested in providing collection services to Producers subject to mutually agreeable financial and operational terms; and
That any questions regarding this resolution can be directed to Jim Ellis, Public Works Manager at 519-923-2110 ext 250 or ; and
That the resolution be forwarded to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.