Blog: Exploring the marketing of recycling materials with Ontario's key PROs

Carton Council of Canada article: Exploring the marketing of recycling materials with Ontario's key PROs. Article link. 

Published: September 5, 2023 

"On July 1, 2023, the transition of Ontario’s Blue Box recycling program into a fully producer-led model began. The new framework requires producers – the businesses that supply packaging and paper – to fund and operate the Blue Box recycling program. The transition of the program is expected to take three years, with approximately one third of the province’s communities adopting the new system each year. The implementation of the new program is expected to be complete no later than January 1, 2026.

Circular Materials and RYSE Solutions Ontario are the two largest full-service producer responsibility organizations (PRO) acting on behalf of producers in Ontario. Once the transition of the program is complete in 2026, these organizations will manage the collection and post-collection of Blue Box materials in more than 400 communities across the province.

While the functioning of the common collection system has been previously discussed, little has been said about how post-collection will function under the new system, in particular the marketing of recycled commodities. In August, Carton Council was able to connect with representatives from both these organizations to better understand their overall approach to the marketing of recycled materials. Below is a summary of their thoughts as this transition begins."

[Full article here.]