WDO delivers Blue Box funding plan

The Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) plan on how industry will help fund municipal Blue Box programs was announced on March 21, 2003. WDO’s proposed Blue Box Program Plan outlines specifics about the diversion of Blue Box wastes and includes a funding plan for affected industries to pay for half the net costs of municipal programs. It details how funding will be collected from industry and distributed to municipalities, market development, promotion and education.

The plan is posted on the Environmental Registry for a 60-day public comment period. Following a review and analysis of any comments received, the environment minister will decide to accept or reject the plan.

Included in the registry posting is a draft regulation that will designate Stewardship Ontario as the industry funding organization set up to develop and implement the plan. Stewardship Ontario is made up of industry stewards, brand owners or first importers of products that are collected in Blue Box programs.

WDO, created by the Waste Diversion Act in June 2002, is a permanent, non-Crown corporation made up of industry, municipal and non-government representatives. WDO was set up to help Ontario meet and surpass the province’s 50 per cent waste reduction goal.

To obtain a copy of the plan, log on to the environment ministry web site at www.ene.gov.on.ca, click on "EBR", then "Environmental Registry," then "Query Notices," and search for RA03E0011. A copy of the plan can also be obtained from the ministry’s Public Information Centre at 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923.