The Ford government is proposing significant changes to Ontario’s recycling regulations, citing rising costs for producers and the risk of job losses as reasons for the shift.
The changes, announced earlier this month, would delay and in some cases cancel new rules intended to make companies more responsible for recycling packaging, paper, and single-use items across the province.
Since 2023, Ontario has been gradually transitioning towards making producers bear the cost of recycling their products.
Under the original plan, enforcement of recovery targets — such as an 80% target for paper and 50% for rigid plastic — was set to begin in 2026, rising further in 2030.
However, the Ford government now proposes to postpone these enforcement measures until 2031 and to remove certain requirements altogether, including expanding recycling to long‑term care homes, multi‑residential buildings, and public spaces.
Environmental advocates warn that the changes will reduce incentives for producers to use sustainable packaging and result in more waste being sent to landfills or incinerators.
Government representatives, including Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, assert that rising costs necessitate a rethink.
According to the Canadian Retail Council, producer costs have increased roughly 350% in three years and could double from 2025 to 2026 if the rules remained unchanged.
The Ford government warns that total blue box program costs could more than double between 2020 and 2030, threatening the stability of the recycling system.