Keeping Pickering-Uxbridge Clean and Beautiful

 Government Invites Public Input on Reducing Litter and Waste 

Pickering, ON — Ontario’s government is working for the people to keep the province clean and beautiful for generations to come by taking steps to reduce litter and waste in communities, and increase and improve household recycling. 

Today, Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge, held a community clean-up in Pickering with PickWaste, an environmental advocacy group for young people in the region. The event was held during National Youth Week, a week dedicated to inspiring civic action among youth in the community and across Ontario. 

“We can all play an important part in keeping communities across the province, including Pickering-Uxbridge, clean – both now, and for future generations,” said MPP Bethlenfalvy. “Our government is encouraging members of our community to take meaningful action towards reducing waste and protecting our air, land and water.” 

“PickWaste was started to clean up the community, but it is not enough to solely pick up litter. We must work together to ensure that students in the future are properly educated and aware of the consequences and rewards of their everyday small actions,” said Sam Demma & Dillon Mendes, Co-Founders of PickWaste. 

The province recently invited public feedback on proposals to reduce plastic litter and waste in our neighbourhoods and parks including Rouge National Urban Park, the Esplanade Park, and Elgin Park. The government is looking at ways to divert and reduce food and organic waste from households and businesses and increase opportunities for people to participate in waste reduction efforts. 

“We know that Ontarians want to do their part to reduce litter and waste, whether at home, at work or on the go,” said Rod Phillips, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “There are so many great ideas out there in the province that we want to build on to reduce waste and divert more of it away from landfills and get our diversion rate moving in the right direction again.” 

Ontario is also committed to making producers responsible for the waste generated from their products and packaging, encouraging them to find new and innovative cost-effective ways to recycle their products and lower costs for consumers. The transition to extended producer responsibility will increase the amount of household material 

recycled, while shifting the cost of recycling from municipalities – and taxpayers – to producers. 

This is the latest step as part of the government’s made-in-Ontario environment plan to protect air, land and water. Additionally, it outlines the province’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help communities and families prepare for climate change. 

 

QUICK FACTS 

  • Ontario generates nearly a tonne of waste per person each year. 
  • Our diversion rate has stalled at 30 per cent over the past 15 years, meaning 70 per cent of our waste materials continue to end up in landfills. 
  • A total of 60 per cent of food and organic waste in Ontario is sent to landfill, emitting methane – a potent greenhouse gas – when it decomposes. 
  • Every 1,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill generates seven full-time jobs and $360,000 in wages, as well as totaling more than $700,000 in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Learn more about how Ontario aims to reduce waste across the province and how you can help. 

 

MORE INFORMATION: 

Aleem Sufi 

Office of MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy 

aleem.sufi@pc.ola.org 

(905) 391-7606 

 

Hayden Kenez Press Secretary, Minister’s Office Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy 

hayden.kenez@ontario.ca

(647) 201-3137