SUMA expresses disappointment with delay to multi-material recycling program

SUMA expresses disappointment with delay to multi-material recycling program

In a recent letter to the editor, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) President Debra Button expressed the organization's disappointment over delays to the provincial multi-material recycling program:

"Delay over MMRP disappointing

I was disappointed to learn of the delay of the Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP) launch set to begin on January 1, 2015. This long-awaited program is a critically important environmental accomplishment created through cooperation between provincial and municipal governments, and industry. To delay it risks losing it.

The goal of the MMRP is simple. This new province-wide recycling program will strengthen residential recycling and reduce the amount of waste - either by recycling or reduction - clogging Saskatchewan landfills.

We are all familiar with bringing home a recently purchased item wrapped in a large amount of cardboard and plastic and seeing flyers overfilling mailboxes. Much or all of this waste ends up in landfills as communities struggle to find money for recycling programs, juggling it against other municipal services and operations. Saskatchewan is littered with a patchwork of programs and growing, spreading landfills.

Everyone involved realized this was not good enough. The province, municipalities, and industry all came to the table to find a way forward. Finally, after many years of hard work, recycling regulations were enacted in 2013 and an MMRP plan was approved.

Under the MMRP, businesses take ownership of the waste packaging and paper they bring into our communities by being financially responsible for their waste. If they cut down their waste, their responsibility decreases. Communities can apply to receive this funding for running an efficient and effective residential recycling program. Residential recycling catches more recyclable material and helps us achieve our goal of cutting the flow of waste into our landfills by 40 per cent.

Saskatchewan communities recognized this benefit immediately; 314 urban and rural municipalities representing 68 per cent of Saskatchewan's population signed up to take part. They know the financial, health, and environmental costs of landfills too well.

Delaying the MMRP puts it at risk. If the delay is too long, municipalities will have to decide whether to increase taxes and fees to start or continue running their programs or be forced to simply abandon them. We need an MMRP. We need to finish what we started - before it's too late.

Sincerely, Debra Button
SUMA President"

original letter - Weyburn This Week

I was disappointed to learn of the delay of the Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP) launch set to begin on January 1, 2015. This long-awaited program is a critically important environmental accomplishment created through cooperation between provincial and municipal governments, and industry. To delay it risks losing it.


The goal of the MMRP is simple. This new province-wide recycling program will strengthen residential recycling and reduce the amount of waste - either by recycling or reduction - clogging Saskatchewan landfills.


We are all familiar with bringing home a recently purchased item wrapped in a large amount of cardboard and plastic and seeing flyers overfilling mailboxes. Much or all of this waste ends up in landfills as communities struggle to find money for recycling programs, juggling it against other municipal services and operations. Saskatchewan is littered with a patchwork of programs and growing, spreading landfills.


Everyone involved realized this was not good enough. The province, municipalities, and industry all came to the table to find a way forward. Finally, after many years of hard work, recycling regulations were enacted in 2013 and an MMRP plan was approved.


Under the MMRP, businesses take ownership of the waste packaging and paper they bring into our communities by being financially responsible for their waste. If they cut down their waste, their responsibility decreases. Communities can apply to receive this funding for running an efficient and effective residential recycling program. Residential recycling catches more recyclable material and helps us achieve our goal of cutting the flow of waste into our landfills by 40 per cent.


Saskatchewan communities recognized this benefit immediately; 314 urban and rural municipalities representing 68 per cent of Saskatchewan's population signed up to take part. They know the financial, health, and environmental costs of landfills too well.


Delaying the MMRP puts it at risk. If the delay is too long, municipalities will have to decide whether to increase taxes and fees to start or continue running their programs or be forced to simply abandon them. We need an MMRP. We need to finish what we started - before it's too late.


Sincerely, Debra Button
SUMA President

- See more at: http://weyburnthisweek.com/viewpoints/letters/delay-of-mmrp-disappointing-1.1746794#sthash.HuVysR2G.dpuf

 

I was disappointed to learn of the delay of the Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP) launch set to begin on January 1, 2015. This long-awaited program is a critically important environmental accomplishment created through cooperation between provincial and municipal governments, and industry. To delay it risks losing it.


The goal of the MMRP is simple. This new province-wide recycling program will strengthen residential recycling and reduce the amount of waste - either by recycling or reduction - clogging Saskatchewan landfills.


We are all familiar with bringing home a recently purchased item wrapped in a large amount of cardboard and plastic and seeing flyers overfilling mailboxes. Much or all of this waste ends up in landfills as communities struggle to find money for recycling programs, juggling it against other municipal services and operations. Saskatchewan is littered with a patchwork of programs and growing, spreading landfills.


Everyone involved realized this was not good enough. The province, municipalities, and industry all came to the table to find a way forward. Finally, after many years of hard work, recycling regulations were enacted in 2013 and an MMRP plan was approved.


Under the MMRP, businesses take ownership of the waste packaging and paper they bring into our communities by being financially responsible for their waste. If they cut down their waste, their responsibility decreases. Communities can apply to receive this funding for running an efficient and effective residential recycling program. Residential recycling catches more recyclable material and helps us achieve our goal of cutting the flow of waste into our landfills by 40 per cent.


Saskatchewan communities recognized this benefit immediately; 314 urban and rural municipalities representing 68 per cent of Saskatchewan's population signed up to take part. They know the financial, health, and environmental costs of landfills too well.


Delaying the MMRP puts it at risk. If the delay is too long, municipalities will have to decide whether to increase taxes and fees to start or continue running their programs or be forced to simply abandon them. We need an MMRP. We need to finish what we started - before it's too late.


Sincerely, Debra Button
SUMA President

- See more at: http://weyburnthisweek.com/viewpoints/letters/delay-of-mmrp-disappointing-1.1746794#sthash.HuVysR2G.dpuf

I was disappointed to learn of the delay of the Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP) launch set to begin on January 1, 2015. This long-awaited program is a critically important environmental accomplishment created through cooperation between provincial and municipal governments, and industry. To delay it risks losing it.


The goal of the MMRP is simple. This new province-wide recycling program will strengthen residential recycling and reduce the amount of waste - either by recycling or reduction - clogging Saskatchewan landfills.


We are all familiar with bringing home a recently purchased item wrapped in a large amount of cardboard and plastic and seeing flyers overfilling mailboxes. Much or all of this waste ends up in landfills as communities struggle to find money for recycling programs, juggling it against other municipal services and operations. Saskatchewan is littered with a patchwork of programs and growing, spreading landfills.


Everyone involved realized this was not good enough. The province, municipalities, and industry all came to the table to find a way forward. Finally, after many years of hard work, recycling regulations were enacted in 2013 and an MMRP plan was approved.


Under the MMRP, businesses take ownership of the waste packaging and paper they bring into our communities by being financially responsible for their waste. If they cut down their waste, their responsibility decreases. Communities can apply to receive this funding for running an efficient and effective residential recycling program. Residential recycling catches more recyclable material and helps us achieve our goal of cutting the flow of waste into our landfills by 40 per cent.


Saskatchewan communities recognized this benefit immediately; 314 urban and rural municipalities representing 68 per cent of Saskatchewan's population signed up to take part. They know the financial, health, and environmental costs of landfills too well.


Delaying the MMRP puts it at risk. If the delay is too long, municipalities will have to decide whether to increase taxes and fees to start or continue running their programs or be forced to simply abandon them. We need an MMRP. We need to finish what we started - before it's too late.


Sincerely, Debra Button
SUMA President

- See more at: http://weyburnthisweek.com/viewpoints/letters/delay-of-mmrp-disappointing-1.1746794#sthash.HuVysR2G.dpuf