Whereas eighteen Regional Districts met with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy at the 2019 UBCM Convention to petition the Ministry to amend the Recycling Regulation to include packaging and printed paper from the ICI sector; And whereas Minister Heyman issued a letter December 18, 2019 responding to the request and noting that the Province recently undertook research and focused engagement concerning additional products that might prove suitable to manage under the Recycling Regulation, and that any work to explore regulatory amendments involving ICI materials would be accompanied by further consultation: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province commit to further consultation on the issue of amending the Recycling Regulation to include packaging and printed paper from the ICI sector.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy The Province acknowledges that proper management of packaging and paper products PPP from the ICI sector is a challenge for local governments and is working to explore new regulatory or policy approaches to manage these materials. The CleanBC Plastics Action Plan, https:cleanbc.gov.bc.caplastics released in 2019, sought feedback on new policy opportunities and proposed amendments to the Recycling Regulation, including the expansion of EPR programs. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy the ministry received over 35,000 responses from all sectors of BC including the public, local governments, Indigenous groups and a range of stakeholders. The feedback received highlighted the need to address ICI generated waste and recyclables and is helping to inform the appropriate policy or regulatory responses. The What We Heard report on the plans engagement is available online. https:cleanbc.gov.bc.caplastics On September 12, 2020 the ministry announced new provincial actions on plastics https:news.gov.bc.careleases2020ENV0051-001715 as part of the provincial Plastics Action Plan. This announcement included the expansion of the Recycling Regulation to allow for more single-use items and packaging-like products to be recycled effective January 1, 2023, and the release of a Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper. https:engage.gov.bc.cagovtogetherbcconsultationrecycling-regulation-pol… The IP outlined the proposed amendments to the Recycling Regulation through the priority products identified from the 2019 service gap analysis and the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan, which included packaging and paper products beyond residential sources. The ministry received substantive feedback from key partners and stakeholders by the November 20, 2020 submission deadline for the IP. This feedback will be summarized and made publicly available by Spring 2021. This will help to inform and develop proposed priorities as part of a five-year plan for amending the Recycling Regulation.