The Niagara Region is handing over responsibilities of its residential recycling program to Circular Materials, a producer responsibility organization that is administering contracts for recyclable material across the province.
But Thorold City Councillors have questions surrounding the handover and what it will mean for taxpayers.
“Does that mean that as a regional taxpayer our waste bill will go down because we no longer do that?” asked Councillor Anthony Longo, during last night’s City Council meeting.
Mayor Terry Ugulini, who chairs the Region’s Waste Management Committee, explained that there will be no changes in the immediate future.
“For the first two years they call it a transition period until full producer responsibility hits in 2026,” he told council members. “GFL, who is our current collector in the city of Thorold, will continue to collect but they won’t be collecting for the Region. They will be collecting for the new group. The only change is going to be that if you have any issues there will be a different number to call.”
The Region is handing over its recycling program in response to Provincial regulations calling for municipal recycling programs in Ontario to transition to the primary producers of food and beverage products and packaging that end up in the residential Blue Box program.
But whether or not the new program will lead to any financial benefits for Thorold taxpayers remains unclear.
“There are some things that are still going to be the responsibility of the municipality,” explained Mayor Ugulini. “You still have industrial and commercial [waste] which is a whole different game and that’s not part of that collection.”
Some councillors worry that the program is going to cost taxpayers more in the long run.
“I’m sure we’re going to pay somewhere along the way, either through environmental fees when you buy something or through the region billing us for more additional waste costs,” said Councillor Henry D’Angela. “I don’t see it as a benefit. I believe we lost our autonomy on it and it’s going to cost us more at the end of the day.”
But according to Mayor Ugulini, the status quo will be maintained for now.
“The actual increase on the waste management this year is zero so on that part of the tax bill there’s no increase,” he said.
He also promised that any further questions regarding the handover will be addressed in the near future.
Although some councillors would like to have answers sooner rather than later.
“It just seems the explanation that I get from the Region and tonight is as clear as mud,” said Councillor Carmen DeRose. “I’m looking forward to a detailed thorough explanation on behalf of taxpayers.”
