Canada NewsWire June 30, 2011

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) challenges all Ontario political parties to demonstrate how they will support waste diversion strategies that ensure that industry cleans up after itself, property taxpayers aren't left holding the tab for waste management costs, and fewer toxins are released into our environment.

"Municipal governments are interested in safe, responsible solutions that reduce waste and increase recycling, without tapping more into the wallets of property taxpayers," said AMO President Peter Hume.

Ontario faces some tough waste management challenges. Products today are more difficult to recycle or discard and some are toxic.  

As well, Ontario is running out of space to bury its waste. Since 1989, 649 of Ontario's 730 landfills have closed. We ship 40% of our waste to the United States.

"There's no doubt that Ontario's stewardship programs need to do better, but they are better than the alternative," said Hume. "People have come to understand that while it's easier to toss everything into garbage in a bag

and leave it at the curb, eventually it costs more - both in terms of dollars and human health."

Ontario currently has several waste diversion programs, which hold some manufacturers and industries responsible for the cost of disposing or diverting waste. These programs also encourage industry to make safer products and produce less garbage.

Any changes to these waste diversion programs should be matched by well-thought out alternatives that meet goals such as sending less waste to

landfills and incinerators, holding waste producers accountable for the costs that they create, and ensuring that property taxes are not being used to let industry off the hook. Currently, property taxes already pay for 50

per cent of the Blue Box program, subsidize Household Hazardous Waste programs and pay for all garbage collection and disposal of waste atlandfill or incinerators.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments.  AMO supports strong and effective municipal

government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

More information about Ontario's growing waste management challenges is available at www.amo.on.ca.