The province of Quebec is considering pushing half the cost of recycling to the private sector. The move is due to the province having difficulties reaching its recycling targets.
Quebec Environment Minister André Boisclair said that the province wants companies that sell products in recyclable containers, such as plastic or glass bottles, to pay half of the cost of recycling those packages. The cost is currently paid entirely by the province's municipalities.
Quebec also wants to impose a tax on operators of landfill sites for each ton of waste that they bury. The money will go toward the recycling program. Boisclair noted that landfill operators snow have access to new sources of revenue, notably in the production of energy.
Boisclair says these moves must be made if the province wants to reach its goal of recycling 60 percent of its waste by 2008.