A national strategy being proposed by Canada’s environment ministers could spell the death of those oversized, impossible-to-open plastic packages — or at least force the corporate world to pay for the recovery of the non-biodegradable packaging and reuse it.
The Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility would place the onus on businesses to deal with their packaging — in an environmentally responsible way — once consumers are done with it. The strategy would take municipalities and taxpayers off the hook for recycling costs.
The plan would also spur innovation in environmentally friendly packaging since businesses would be forced to improve the sustainability of products or face financial consequences, said Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen.
