OFA has submitted comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as part of the consultation on the proposed amendments to recognize the biogenic portion of municipal solid waste.
OFA supports the proposed amendments to recognize the biogenic portion of municipal solid waste as a renewable energy source when processed through Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities.
Ontario currently ships approximately 2.7 million tonnes of municipal and commercial waste to Michigan each year. Continued reliance on cross-border landfilling is viewed as unsustainable due to lower disposal costs in Michigan and the increasing likelihood of future environmental and interjurisdictional constraints on waste exports.
Recognizing the biogenic content of municipal solid waste as carbon neutral would strengthen the economic case for processing waste within Ontario, encourage greater diversion of waste from landfills, and increase domestic energy recovery from waste streams.
OFA also highlights the ongoing challenges associated with recycling agricultural plastics, including high reprocessing costs and limited end markets. While recycling remains the preferred outcome, Energy from Waste is identified as a more sustainable alternative to landfilling for materials that currently lack viable recycling solutions.
Overall, OFA endorses the proposed amendments as a practical step toward improving waste diversion, supporting renewable energy generation, and reducing Ontario’s dependence on exporting waste for disposal.