Jan. 1 will bring a major change for Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses, especially those with large amounts of cardboard, plastics and other recyclables.
In late November, Niagara Region announced it will stop collecting non-residential recycling because of a new provincial rule putting the responsibility for residential recycling in the hands of producers — companies that supply packaging and paper products.
“As part of their transition planning, producers have determined that non-residential recyclables cannot be collected together with residential recyclables under the new producer-run system,” said Dave Yousif, acting director of waste management services for Niagara Region.
Because non-residential recycling is not included in this program, which means the recycling can’t go into the same vehicles, Niagara Region would have to have its own service for this.
Having a service just to collect non-residential recycling would be prohibitively expensive, said Niagara Region.
“The total estimated cost of delivering this standalone service would be up to $3.5 million per year, a level that is not financially reasonable or sustainable under the region’s current budget,” the region said in a press release.
Private companies will now handle the service. Niagara Region released a list of eight private companies available to businesses, including Miller Waste Systems, which has a branch on Townline Road in NOTL.
The region said 4,735 non-residential properties currently receive recycling service across Niagara. The Lake Report heard from four NOTL organizations affected by the change.
While some expect a greater impact than others, all expressed frustration with the decision.
Erin Vanbussel, general manager of Silversmith Brewing Company in Virgil, said the change will cost her business $175 a month.
The brewery generates significant recycling; she has a cardboard bin that “could fit a human being inside.” The business already uses a third-party garbage and cardboard recycling service that comes biweekly for larger items, but she said the new rules will increase their burden.
“I will say this was a shock when I received the notice in the mail last week,” she said. “We do use our recycle bins; we put them out weekly. And it is going to hurt us in the long run.”
Vanbussel called it an “added cost” on top of taxes and said it could lead to more garbage as people throw out items that should be recycled.
Alyssa Griese, an employee at Just Christmas in Old Town, manages much of her workplace’s recycling. She said the place she works will struggle to adapt.
“We’re now trying to figure out what to do because we don’t have the space to put a bin to store our recycling,” she said.
Griese also said she thought the change was very “overnight.”
For not-for-profits and religious groups, the costs may be especially difficult.
Cindy Grant, director of Newark Neighbours, said she understands the policy stems from the province and gives the region some grace, but she still believes it is poor policy.
“I understand the requirement for changing the policy at the region and that the burden of recycling is now passed onto the providers,” she said. “It does put an additional burden on businesses and especially not-for-profits. It has come as a surprise to many businesses with little communication from the region.”
Don Dineley, a member of the property committee at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, also said the news came as a shock.
“I certainly didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “It’s not a very good thing for churches, small churches.”
He added that some organizations appear to be treated differently, saying it was not fair for the Shaw Festival to receive a break while small businesses must pay for recycling themselves.
Les Fincham, also a member of the property committee, said they talked about the issue on Tuesday night and said the issue wouldn’t have too large an impact on them except when it comes to major events. They are still trying to decide what to do.
Residential recycling will continue as normal.
daniel@niagaranow.com
