Media Releases

STATEMENT FROM STEWARDSHIP ONTARIO

October 12, 2010 - Today the Government of Ontario announced changes to the Orange Drop hazardous waste recycling program. Stewardship Ontario will work closely with the government and our partners to make the necessary changes and continue to deliver Ontario’s highly successful recycling programs.

Stewardship Ontario will continue to deliver the municipal hazardous and special waste program for nine Phase 1 materials that began on July 1, 2008. Consumers can go to www.stewardshipontario.ca to find a list of Phase 1 materials and the closest location to take them. We will also continue to manage the highly successful Blue Box program, for curbside collection of a variety of paper and packaging materials.

Our work with consumers indicates that while there is broad support for a hazardous waste recycling program, more needs to be done to educate consumers and address their needs and concerns. Stewardship Ontario has already taken a number of positive measures to improve the Orange Drop program and strengthen accountability and transparency.

Here’s what we’re doing:

• Establishing a Consumer Advisory Committee to reflect the public interest and ensure that consumer concerns are addressed when developing and implementing programs. The committee is guided by the belief that industry stewardship plans are most successful when they have the support of those whose participation is critical.
• Transitioned the Board of Directors to a competency-based model that selected 14 industry directors and two independent directors from a pool of over 400 applicants. Stewardship Ontario will move quickly to fill the independent positions with consumer advocates.
• We are currently undergoing a complete review of all our programs (performance audit) to ensure that our programs are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Stewardship Ontario is proud of its accomplishments – in particular the successful growth of the Blue Box, and the performance of municipal hazardous and special waste diversion.

Today more than 95 per cent of Ontarians recycle and Ontario has one of the world’s highest recycling rates at almost 70 per cent. In 2009 alone, the Orange Drop program diverted more than 17.3 million kilograms and over 2.2 million litres of hazardous and special wastes from our landfills and waterways. At the same time, we have contributed approximately $375 million to municipalities for the collection, processing and safe disposal of Blue Box and Orange Drop materials, offsetting the need for property taxes for these services.

Stewardship Ontario is committed to working with our partners to build on our success and deliver high quality, world-class recycling programs to Ontarians.