Ontario Refocuses on Blue Box Recycling
July 16, 2024Attention Ontario retailers and grocers: Over the past year, Ontario consulted on a Deposit Return System (DRS) to explore the feasibility of a take-back system for non-alcoholic beverage containers, possibly to retailer stores. Last week, the government decided to discontinue these consultations, opting instead to focus on the curbside Blue Box recycling program, which spares grocery retailers and consumers significant costs. Retail Council of Canada is very supportive of the government’s direction on this file; this move allows producers to focus on Blue Box and achieve the high beverage targets set in regulation. Moving forward, RCC will continue to demonstrate recycling leadership by partnering with York University to study beverage container recycling and support the development of supplemental programs in Ontario to optimize the Blue Box program.