‘Don’t blame companies for recycling program’s failures’
Posted October 8, 2015 11:47 pm.
Last Updated October 8, 2015 11:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Companies can’t be blamed for the shortcomings of BC’s new recycling program.
That is how one organization is responding to a story we brought you last week, about the 200-or-so companies that are delinquent in their payments.
The fees paid by the companies go towards the operation of Multi-Material BC, or MMBC, the new organization that coordinates the curb-side collection of household recyclables.
MMBC says it can’t expand its recycling program to all municipalities that want it, until more companies pay their dues.
Richard Truscott of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business doesn’t know how many of his members are failing to pay the fees, but he says he doesn’t blame companies for being confused.
“The regulations are quite cumbersome. I really think MMBC needs to do a reality check. Rather than pointing the finger at businesses, they have to look at themselves.”
Companies pay fees based on what kinds and the amounts of packaging they use, but Truscott says MMBC has been doing a poor job of asking for the business community’s guidance in getting more companies to comply.
“The calculations are very confusing and complex. There’s a lot of paperwork involved. No wonder business owners are confused. That means they are ticking boxes and filling out forms, and not doing what they want to be doing.”
The Ministry of Environment says it is aggressively pursuing what it calls ‘free-riding’ producers. It is not divulging which companies it is going after.
