Thank you for inviting me to the committee.
The current federal approach is focused on introducing bans on some plastics. As a recycler, I know this approach fails to recognize the value of post-consumer plastics to industry and society.
Bans on plastic products suggest that the material is problematic, when in fact it is the absence of appropriate waste management systems that is the issue. Many plastics can already be recycled, but, as a society, we have not invested sufficiently in the system, infrastructure and technology required to maximize recycling opportunities.
Some plastics are considered harder to recycle than others, but there are solutions available or in pilot phase that can address our requirements. Canada needs to focus on supporting economic development opportunities to augment the technologies for mechanical recycling and create the space for chemical recycling technology to flourish.
The current federal government approach will not address the crux of the issue: namely, how we will deal with the end of life of packaging. Instead of introducing a ban, I would rather see the introduction of a disruptive fee levied against packaging that does not comply with required recyclability standards, such as design for recyclability guidelines. As a business person and innovator who built the largest plastics recycling company in Canada, I know we can do better if industry and governments co-operate and focus on solutions.
Rather than introducing bans—or what I could call a stick approach—I would urge the government to instead use a carrot approach and incentivize brand owners to design their packages for recyclability and incentivize them to use post-consumer resin in their packaging. We need to make brand owners accountable for the end-of-life design of their package through eco-fees, which Maja has clearly described and I greatly support.
I would also urge the government to encourage the development of further recycling infrastructure and investment in the building of such infrastructure.
The above would result in, one, improved product design for recyclability, which is the key element for future development; two, technological innovation in mechanical and chemical recycling; three, greater capacity to recycle; and four, more end markets for recycled content in the product.
This approach has three further benefits. It meets environmental sustainability goals, since plastics are often a more sustainable choice compared to alternative materials. It will demonstrate efficient use and reuse of extracted resources. It will catapult Canada into global leadership on this important issue.
Plastics have demonstrated, in many cases, their benefit. We see it through COVID-19 in having masks to prevent infecting other people. We see it in our clothes. We see it in our fridge in packaging milk, etc. There is good use for it, and it's not in any way, shape or form toxic; it actually helps us in our society, but we need good policy to make it circular, as Maja has described and I have mentioned.
That's all I have to say.