Flat Tax Equals Flat Performance
Like Ontario, Manitoba’s beverage container collection is consolidated with the collection of other recyclable materials and (with the exception of beer containers) doesn’t have a deposit-refund system. Of the 138 municipalities (of a total of 202) that provide collection services for recyclables, 58 per cent do so through depots and 42 per cent operate via curbside collection. The Manitoba Product Stewardship Program manages both the depots and curbside collection. The program dates back to 1989 and is a product of the 1990 Waste Reduction and Prevention Act (WRAP).
The Manitoba Recycling Action Committee (a multi-stakeholder group) suggested that brand owners or their distributors should be responsible for productassociated waste minimization. Specific materials that were identified for stewardship included: tires, batteries, lubricating oils, disposable diapers, newspapers, corrugated and commercial waste paper, yard waste and beverage containers.
