Ontario Agency Assists in Glass Recycling

For the fifth consecutive year, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario has provided Ontario municipalities that recycle glass beverage alcohol containers with a financial contribution to their recycling costs.

LCBO contributed four million dollars, which was divided on a per metric ton basis amongst 169 municipal Blue Box programs. The tonnage was derived from the annual Data Call, during which municipalities submit their recycling tonnages and costs to a central data repository. The year 2001 data was the basis for this year's remittances that were sent to municipalities during the past six weeks.

"Environmental protection remains a key priority for the government and the work of Waste Diversion Ontario will play an important role in meeting our waste reduction goals," said Environment Minister Chris Stockwell. "When I announced the WDO board, I asked it to move quickly to provide funding from the LCBO to municipalities and I'm happy to see that has happened."

"The LCBO is pleased to continue to do its part to promote recycling and waste diversion by supporting the Blue Box system," said LCBO Chair and CEO Andrew S. Brandt. "This funding helps Ontario communities meet their waste diversion targets in a way that is practical and convenient for the consumer, as well as cost-effective for the taxpayer and municipalities."

Waste Diversion Ontario, a non-share capital corporation created under Ministerial regulation on June 27, 2002 has been established to provide a mechanism to support municipal costs for all materials collected in residential recycling programs. LCBO is a member of the industry funding organization, Stewardship Ontario, that will implement and operate the Blue Box Program Plan for Waste Diversion Ontario, and next year's contributions to municipal recycling costs will be provided through this program.