Niagara Region to opt out of residential blue box

By Mike Williscraft NewsNow

Niagara Region will be opting out of residential blue box financial responsibilities effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Regional council ratified the move at last Thursday’s regular meeting.

“This has been an on going initiative from the Province to make producers responsible for the collection and processing of their material. Now that we have taken a position in this process of opting out as of Jan. 1, 2024, the producers will negotiate with the collectors to provide this service to our residents,” said

West Lincoln Reg. Coun. Albert Witteveen.

“Neighbouring regions have already transitioned and the process has gone smoothly.”

The decision will set the direction for responsibility of residential recycling collection to be removed from the Region and placed solely in the hands of Circular Materials Ontario (CMO).

CMO is the organization responsible for setting up contracts to collect and receive recycling materials across the province, on behalf of producers. The decision was made due to potential risks with the agreements being offered by CMO that would have seen the Region maintain responsibility as a recycling collection provider, on CMO’s behalf, until Dec. 31, 2025. Beyond 2025, producers take full control (operationally and financially) of the residential

Blue Box program across Ontario.

There is still considerable detail to work on the shift, so an exact savings has not been projected, but it will be several million dollars.

For regional council, there will still be key decisions to make,

See BLUE BOX, Page 3

Is your Air Conditioning ready for Summer?

Queens Real Estate Inc. Brokerage; The Newest Brokerage on the Block

Queens Real Estate Inc.

Brokerage is new to this area; however, our realtors have many years of professional experience & expertise to share with our community & beyond.

Our mission is to provide competent, caring & positive results for our clients without lofty promises. This means no harassment, no empty promises, no undervaluing of your property. We will always provide current and accurate market conditions that are applicable to where you are intending to buy or sell. We are proficient in trading: Residential Properties, Farms, Waterfront, Commercial, Investments & Condos. What sets Queens Real Estate Inc. Brokerage apart from others?

We treat every consumer with personal attention. That translates to answered or returned calls quickly by the person you are intending to call. A compact team of realtors ensures quick and effective results when you need assistance in the acquisition or sale of property.

You can find us volunteering within our community, golfing, helping on local farms, we also walk our dogs, so if you see us, please stop, and say hello, you will know us buy our T-shirts or hats with the crown.

If you would like to get some information about the value of your property without commitment or harassing calls, please feel free to call us directly.

Thank you.

Queens Real Estate Inc.

Rita Ventresca, Broker of Record

Cell: 905-923-6488 • Office: 519-89-QUEEN

Judge’s 15th annual tourney nets $5,200 for GBF programs

The Judge & Jester is a true friend of the community, supporting the Grimsby Benevolent Fund for the past 15 years through its annual charity golf tournament.

“GBF does great things. We are lucky to have them,” Judge & Jester owner Don Paddock said last week presenting a cheque for $5,200 to Megan Kools, GBF food program manager.

Kools said the funds will be used for the GBF housing initiative to support low income families in Grimsby to maintain housing through the rent supplement program and emergency rent assistance program.

The Judge & Jester gives back to the community through two annual fundraisers, including the GBF and McNally House Hospice.

Benchlands Blanc Party

Blue Box

From Page 1 such as, to continue or discontinue:

Special Events Recycling Collection

The alternative is to discontinue providing special events recycling starting Jan. 1, 2024; however, staff will be reviewing what the program looks like prior to the full transition of the Blue Box program on January 1, 2026.

Non-Designated Materials

The alternative is to continue to provide collection for nondesignated materials – such as books and flexible plastics used for food containment – as of Jan. 1, 2024; however, this is not recommended as it would be cost prohibitive to provide separate curbside collection for this material. There is uncertainty if a processor can be found, and it will lead to inconsistencies amongst acceptable items across the province. The “non-designated” issue is key because, once this “optout” is in play, the region loses control over what is acceptable materials for the program.

Also, producers are required as of Jan. 1, 2026 to expand the list of acceptable Blue Box material types to accept items such as chip bags, pet food bags, and cereal bag liners. However, starting Jan. 1, 2024, books and sandwich and freezer bags will no longer be collected.

“We discussed how to move forward and it was agreed that we should get out of the recycling business and hand over to the new entities,” said Lincoln Reg. Coun. Rob Foster.

“That being said, the recycling will not look any different to households -- with the exception, some of the current things recycled by the Region will not be -- the only things to be recycled are those mandated by the province.”

Niagara Region has one of the more comprehensive residential Blue Box programs across the province with close to 38,000 tonnes of recyclables diverted from landfill, each year.

However, Blue Box programs across the province have become more complex with wideranging packaging formats on the market and costs continuing to increase.

“Producers” which will take over responsibility are the brand holders, importers, or retailers of products that contain blue box materials. Producers are any company which supplies products (containing packaging, paper products and packaging-like products) into the Ontario market, including online sales. Examples of producers include Loblaw Companies Ltd., McDonalds, Maple Leaf and Nestle.

The provincial government has stressed that they want the transition to be seamless. Therefore, Niagara residents could see the same contractor collecting their recyclables on Jan. 1, 2024.

PAUL LEWIS SETTIMI General

Grateful family, friends raise $4,800 for McNally House

McNally House Hospice was there when Charlene Van Huis and family needed them and they will always remember the compassion they received during times of loss and grief.

“They were amazing,” said Van Huis, recalling the care from staff and volunteers they received for her father-in-law Ben Van Huis and family friend Tom Davis who lost his wife Janet.

“It was heartbreaking and heartwarming.”

There is nothing like family and close friends, so when Van Huis called on them for help with a fundraiser for McNally House, the whole team was behind her to help. The Smithville Legion pitched in to donate all the food for the event. The John

Atlee Band played to the outdoor crowd and the raffle prizes were a hit including tickets for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tiger Cats. “People had a great time.” The event raised $4,800.