Update on Ontario’s new municipal blue box program, federal policy on methane emissions at landfills, and more

County Council meetings are broadcast live at www.oxfordcounty.ca/livestream. To download the full agenda or view past recordings of council meetings, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/council.

Preparing for changes to Ontario’s municipal blue box program

County Council receives an update next council meeting on Oxford County’s steps to prepare for the new province-wide recycling collection program that takes full effect in 2026. Under the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, municipalities will no longer be responsible for curbside recycling collection and blue box material processing. Instead, product brand holders, manufacturers, commercial wholesalers, and others who produce products and packaging will be responsible for collecting and processing these materials, as well as for their end-of-life management including recycling, reusing or disposing to landfill.

Since the update to Council on April 26, the County is proposing the following to prepare for the upcoming changes:

• that Oxford County continues to work with area municipalities to explore options for items and customer groups (e.g. commercial or industrial) that may not be covered under the new EPR blue box program;
• that Oxford County does not enter into the bid process to become a contracted recycling collector for Oxford due to a number of operational and financial factors; and,
• that the County update its waste management service contracts with the Township of South-West Oxford and City of Woodstock (contracted by Oxford County to perform waste collection) to reflect the upcoming EPR regulatory changes.

PW 2023-30: Municipal Blue Box Program Update – Transition to Full Extended Producer Responsibility

Federal policy on methane emissions at landfills

County Council is receiving an update on Oxford County’s feedback to the federal government on proposed policy changes for methane gas emissions from landfills. Environment and Climate Change Canada is increasing requirements for monitoring and performance, for instance, through higher methane control thresholds for surface emissions and leaks. Oxford County’s sole landfill in operation, the Oxford County Waste Management Facility, has an existing landfill gas collection and flaring system in place that will be subject to the new guidelines. The staff report notes that the volume of methane collected at the facility has generally been low, and that staff has also undertaken environmental investigations and regular methane emissions monitoring at the eight County-owned closed landfill sites.   

PW 2023-31: Reducing Canada’s Landfill Methane Emissions, Proposed Regulatory Framework, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Other reports and presentations

• CS 2023-19: Oxford County Lansdowne Ave Watermain Extension Project
• CS 2023-20: Oxford County Main St Norwich Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station Project
• CS 2023-21: Internal Debt Financing – Tillsonburg
• HR 2023-06: Non-Union Job Evaluation and Salary Administration Policy Amendments

Questions or comments?                                                                  

Council this Week highlights Council activities for the public, employees and community partners. Please send your questions and comments to communications@oxfordcounty.ca