AMO Strongly Supports Province's Commitment to Waste Diversion

TORONTO, July 20 /CNW/ - The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) supports the Government of Ontario's commitment to work with businesses and consumer groups to improve waste diversion, while scrapping the "eco fees" that some retailers have been charging.

"Ontario would benefit from a waste diversion system that people easily understand and support," said Peter Hume, AMO President. "Hazardous household products generate high waste management costs for property tax payers and they pollute our environment. It is cheaper, greener and safer to keep these products out of landfills."

Over the next 90 days, the Ontario Government will work with Stewardship Ontario, the manufacturing industry and other stakeholders to design a better method of handling the costs of Ontario's 'Orange Drop' program.

AMO believes that waste management costs related to hazardous household products should continue to be the responsibility of those who create and distribute these products in the first place. Their costs should not be borne by municipal property tax payers.

"Businesses that create waste should be held accountable for the disposal costs of their products. That is the only way to encourage them to produce less waste, create less toxic products and recycle more," added Hume.

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.

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