The City of Belleville has joined other municipalities calling on the province to amend a regulation so that producers are responsible for the end-of-life management of recycling products from all sources.
As of July 1, 2025, companies that produce recyclable products will be responsible for the costs of collecting and recycling blue box materials.
However, the regulation only covers ‘eligible’ sources.
Businesses, municipal buildings, daycares, campgrounds, commercial farms and non-profits such as food banks, are among the ‘ineligible’ sources.
If a municipality decides to continue offering recycling services to ineligible sources, it will be responsible for 100% of the costs.
At its meeting on Monday, Belleville council supported a resolution from Loyalist Township requesting that the province amend Ontario Regulation 391/21 making producers responsible for the end-of-life management of recycling products from all sources.
Councillor Chris Malette says while the legislation is designed to reduce packaging, the producers will push back.
“When it comes to the rubber hitting the road and these producers have to actually pay, they’re gonna start saying whoa, we’re not gonna pick up item X or certain areas. So, you know, we’re starting to see that pushback and this is a time that we have to push back equally hard and insist that the original intent of the legislation has to be adhered to.”
Councillor Garnet Thompson says the resolution is a major move to manufacturers to take on more responsibility.
Prince Edward County passed a similar resolution last week.
