Author - Alyssa Broadfoot

Part I. Put a lid on it: Blue box litter abatement

Open top blue boxes at the curb can contribute to litter on the streets and moisture levels that can impact the marketability of the materials. The CIF has been working with Durham Region to develop a methodology to assess litter and moisture related to open blue boxes, and furthermore, to measure...

CIF Windup Plan approved by RPRA

On Wednesday December 16, 2020 the CIF Windup Plan was approved by the Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA). The plan includes important details about the windup and operation of the CIF in coming years. The CIF Windup Plan lays out a timeline to windup the CIF in accordance with the Minister’s...

A message from outgoing CIF Managing Director

As previously announced, Mike Birett, CIF’s current Managing Director, will be leaving his post at the end of 2020. Mike has been with the CIF since its very beginning in 2008 and has been serving as Managing Director since 2011. During his time at CIF, Mike has been an invaluable...

CIF 2021 Interim Operations Plan

At its last meeting, CIF Committee approved the CIF 2021 Interim Operation Plan, which balances directives from the Ministry with the priorities established by CIF stakeholders to focus on efforts that support collective benefits and that emphasize the current mandate as found in the BBPP. As the Province prepares to...

Next generation technologies: Spotlight on in-bin cameras

Transition to an Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) framework, China Sword policies, and COVID-19 are all contributing to a challenging and uncertain environment for Ontario municipalities operating blue box programs. Despite this, municipalities continue to deliver services and maintain program performance. To help ensure continued efficiency and effectiveness of recycling systems...

Proposed blue box regulation details eligible sources and service standards

The proposed new Blue Box regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, released by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) on October 19, 2020, details the eligible sources for collection and service standards required during and after transition. Residences, facilities and public spaces considered eligible...

Single-Use Plastics: Ban, recycle or both?

Earlier in October, the Federal government released a discussion paper “A proposed integrated management approach to plastic products”, outlining a proposal to ban single-use plastics starting in 2021. How does the Federal government’s proposed management strategies for single-use packaging align with Ontario’s draft blue box regulation? To kick off Ontario’s 2020 Waste...

A first look at the proposed new blue box regulation

On Monday, October 19, 2020, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks proposed a new regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 for the blue box. It makes producers of products and packaging fully responsible for the waste they create. The Proposal is posted on the...

The bagged recyclables dilemma

Faced with a new processing RFP, Dufferin County sought to understand the costs to manage increasing amounts of bagged recyclables, and whether it would be more cost-effective to debag at the curb or process bagged materials at the MRF. Dufferin provides single stream recycling collection in Blue Boxes, with the...