Municipalities all across Manitoba are looking for more cost-effective ways of doing things, while maintaining a certain standard level of service. Recycling costs have been a topic of discussion for all Manitoba municipalities, as to find out how to recoup the costs of operating recycling services in each community, which has been a growing challenge.
Mult-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) has a draft plan proposal to spearhead and manage recycling in the province and take it off municipalities’ plates.
“The proposed plan to transition to full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) would take a minimum of three years once approved,” said MMSM Executive Director Karen Melnychuk. “Communities will have the choice to either become service providers to MMSM or MMSM will put out Request For Proposals (RFP) for residential collection services based on catchment areas. All post-collection will become the responsibility of MMSM.
“Currently MMSM funds up to 80 percent of the costs of residential recycling programs. MMSM works with communities and municipalities behind the scenes. With the transition to full EPR, MMSM would take over full management and responsibility for residential recycling in the province of Manitoba.”