(Image: Government of New Brunswick/Twitter)
New Brunswick says a new program designed to significantly reduce waste in the province is one step closer to reality.
Regulatory steps are now being put in place to create an extended producer responsibility program for packaging and paper products, the province announced Thursday.
The program would transfer responsibility for product waste from local governments and regional service commissions to the producer.
“Not only does it lead to less waste going to our landfills, it means more products can be recycled and we can have more consistent recycling programs in New Brunswick,” Environment Minister Gary Crossman said in a statement.
A provincial news release from 2019 said the program is expected to double the amount of packaging and printed products being diverted from landfills.
Five other provinces already have similar programs in place, but New Brunswick would be the first one in Atlantic Canada.
The new program is expected to be up and running by the spring of 2023.
New Brunswick currently has extended producer responsibility programs for tires, paint, oil and glycol products and electronics.
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