Ontario Baseline Waste & Recycling Report – Executive Summary

The provincial government’s efforts to transition existing diversion programs to full producer responsibility and expand diversion of food and organic waste from disposal have helped to achieve the 2020 target of 30% waste diversion. [...] Additional tonnes necessary to meet Ontario’s diversion goals 12,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 Equivalent of ~44,870 Blue Whales 6,000,000 Equivalent of (target reached) ~17,685 Blue Whales 4,000,000 2,000,000 0 2020 Target (30%) 2030 Target (50%) 2050 Target (80%) Current Diversion Additional Tonnes Required to Meet the Target* Diversion Target * Tonnes necessary to meet targets may be higher base. [...] New policies to drive ICI waste diversion d esignations Actions taken by the government to date have mainly Addressing issues with current EPR regulations could focused on residential materials, including the help to improve outcomes and ensure a stronger Ontario Blue Box Regulation. [...] There are various policy mechanisms that ii) Ensuring designations align with other Canadian could be used to achieve this from a disposal levy jurisdictions; (i.e., similar to Quebec, Manitoba, and a number of iii) Removing unnecessary exemptions, deductions other US States) to expanding producer responsibility and credits; requirements to a larger range of businesses (i.e., similar to Quebec and. [...] (50%) (80%) Current Diversion Did You Know? Potential ICI Organic Waste Diversion A Conference Board of Canada report found that Potential ICI Blue Box Materials increasing Ontario’s waste diversion to 60% could create more than 12,500 new jobs and generate Potential Additional EPR Designations an additional $1.5 billion to the provincial gross Additional Tonnes Required to Meet the Target* domest.