OTTAWA, Ontario - The Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA) applauds the Government of Ontario for its desire to move forward to achieve greater waste reduction in Ontario.

CPCA’s manufacturer members, the paint brand owners, constitute more than 90 percent of the paint stewards in Ontario. Paint is the largest material category of the nine in the Municipal Hazard or Special Waste (MHSW) Program, representing more than 40 percent of the program. Under extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Ontario, paint producers currently pay 100 percent of the costs associated with paint recycling.

“Paint producers in Ontario have been meeting and exceeding established targets for paint recycling since the inception of the program, and we do not expect that to change in the coming years,” commented Gary LeRoux, CPCA President. “We see the new act as an opportunity to improve efficiencies, reduce GHG emissions and secure greater recycling outcomes in future.”

Paint producers will continue to cooperate with government and important stakeholders as the proposed Zero-Waste Act moves through the legislative process. As in the past — and throughout the recent consultations on the proposed Act — CPCA advocates for a process that is focused on outcomes related to waste reduction. “We look forward to improved regulations under the proposed act, which will produce less administrative burden for all those involved and a system that has greater transparency, improved efficiencies and better governance,” said LeRoux.