AMO ad thanks Ontarians and calls for continued efforts during Waste Reduction Week

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) will launch a special advertisement insert highlighting progress in waste management by Ontario residents. The ad recognizes the hard work of Ontarians and the need to keep moving forward.

Residential diversion rates have made slow but steady progress over the last decade and it is estimated that Ontario now diverts about 46 per cent of its residential waste from landfills, about 2.2 million tonnes of waste. This improvement has been critical to saving shrinking landfill space and conserving resources. However, pressure on our waste management systems continues to grow - both in terms of volume and cost. AMO continues to work with industry and the province to find more ways to reduce waste.

"People in Ontario work hard to reduce waste," said AMO President Russ Powers. "Residents need to keep up the good work. And the industries that create all of our products and packaging need to continue to do more as well."

AMO believes that waste management in Ontario should:

• hold producers more directly accountable for the waste they generate;
• promote waste reduction and diversion from landfill;
• create incentives to use efficient packaging that's easy to recycle; and
• create incentives for the manufacture and use of less toxic products.

Holding those who create waste accountable for waste management costs encourages greater efficiency and better environmental stewardship.

The public service advertising insert will run in Ontario newspapers during Waste Reduction Week starting October 15 as part of the newspaper industry's in-kind contribution to recycling programs. More information about Ontario's growing waste management challenges is available at www.amo.on.ca/epr.

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.

SOURCE: Association of Municipalities of Ontario

Brian Lambie, AMO Media Contact:
Phone: [phone] Email: [email protected]