CUPE Ontario Rings Alarm Bells About Loss of Public Oversight and Job Losses With Changes to Blue Box Program

The Ontario governments proposed changes to the Blue Box recycling program will lead to losses of good jobs in municipalities and a lack of public oversight, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario.

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Wednesday, October 21, 2020
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Public policy, Government, Labor, State, Local, Environment, Water conservation, Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Union of Public Employees, International Transport Workers' Federation, Public Services International, Blue box recycling system, Recycling, Waste management, Trade unions, Articles
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  • The Ontario governments proposed changes to the Blue Box recycling program will lead to losses of good jobs in municipalities and a lack of public oversight, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario.
  • When private corporations take full control over the Blue Box program they'll want to make a profit, so theyll cut corners because profit is their bottom line, according to CUPE Ontario.
  • There are also concerns about the lack of enforcement, for instance: requiring diversion rates; or conducting, growing, and maintaining a program.
  • We have other options and we cant allow misleading plans like the EPR to take us off course.


The Ontario government’s proposed changes to the Blue Box recycling program will lead to losses of good jobs in municipalities and a lack of public oversight, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario.

The Ford government’s announced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling model is touted as one that would result in substantial savings for taxpayers and municipalities, but the union, which represents waste collectors, says there are concerning elements to the plan.

“The government is highlighting the fact that more items can be recycled, but the real story is private corporations taking over recycling and what this will mean for all of us,” said Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario.

When private corporations take full control over the Blue Box program they'll want to make a profit, so they’ll cut corners because profit is their bottom line, according to CUPE Ontario.

“Corporations care about their profits over people and environmental protection – period,” said Hahn. “We are in a climate emergency and we need to have strong public programs that operate for the public good, which is clearer to Ontarians than ever since the pandemic.”

Hahn adds that the model is unsustainable and environmentally damaging because some items will be recyclable in residential areas but not at stores. There are also concerns about the lack of enforcement, for instance: requiring diversion rates; or conducting, growing, and maintaining a program.

With municipalities hit hard financially due to the pandemic, the Ford government is calling EPR announcement an opportunity to cut costs, but the union is saying that this is the time for greater funding, not less.

“Instead of doing what’s needed to increase funding to shore up municipalities and ensure the services people depend on will continue, the Ford Conservatives are selling off public services to the private sector,” said David Petten, chair of CUPE Ontario’s municipal sector. “We have other options and we can’t allow misleading plans like the EPR to take us off course.”

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