Are We Doing Enough to get Ontario Manufacturers to Reduce waste
Canadian manufacturers inevitably produce a large amount of waste and in Ontario, with the sizeable number of manufacturers we have here in the province, this makes a sizeable dent in our environmental record.
The difficulty with something like manufacturing is that it’s not a sector of waste production that can be minimized by making a different choice. No matter the product, manufacturing facilities are always going to produce waste to some degree. Thereby, the challenge becomes how to reduce waste in these environments without affecting efficiency of production. This is an unpopular conversation to have, with no clear answer.
Let’s take a few steps back for a minute. We can all acknowledge waste management services in Ontario is an essential and it’s not perfect. There is room for improvement with how we collect, process, and dispose of waste. Increasing efficiencies in waste management hinges on waste reduction at times. Though manufacturing facilities can implement policies and our provincial government can build in incentives, a lot of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of management. If one is going to reduce waste in manufacturing, it begins by examining the products we’re manufacturing and considering whether a more eco-friendly option is available.
In Ontario, manufacturing management executives should examine how wasteful their production is and determine if replacing certain products could result in environmental or financial savings. In some cases, they may be surprised to find that there’s money to save in switching to less wasteful products. For example, some provinces have enacted ERP programs, or extended producer responsibility. This makes manufacturers responsible for paying for the waste generated. There’s incentive there to consider changes in products related to things like packaging, paper, tries, electronics, batteries, and more.
There are a lot of provinces and manufacturers doing some great work at limiting manufacturing waste. Ontario government-run recycling programs are growing and the cost-effectiveness of recycling has been on the upswing for over a decade. The aforementioned ERP programs in Ontario have produced a lot of good, including reducing costs for municipalities and taxpayers relating to curbside recycling collection. Improving efficiency of waste management in Ontario is a priority because waste processing has a cost. The more waste we generate, the more we have to pay to manage it. That’s the biggest incentive we have as a culture to ensure improvements happen.
As a Toronto waste management company, we know ‘waste’ is not an attractive and exciting topic. It’s one that Ontario needs to take a serious look at though. There are still opportunities out there to improve recycling infrastructure, reduce costs of material processing, and also, saving taxpayers money. The provincial government has a key role to play, as do municipalities like Toronto and manufacturers. Program-based incentives have done a lot and potentially, there could be more. Is Ontario doing enough to get its manufacturers to reduce waste output – it’s hard to say. What we know for certain is there’s still room for improvement.
Core Mini Bins is a top Toronto waste management and recycling company, collecting, processing, and disposing of a wide array of waste products from across the GTA. Whether it’s residential, commercial, or industrial, we have served thousands of clients far and wide across Toronto. If you’re in need of affordable, quality waste management, feel encouraged to speak with a representative today.
