Manitoba’s eco-review called waste by groups whose funding cut

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This article was published 22/01/2021 (1965 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The provincial government said it would review waste management and recycling in Manitoba just months after it cut funding to environmental groups, including ones that promote recycling.

Conservation Minister Sarah Guillemard said the review, expected to be done by late spring, will look into several areas. Those include a regulatory review of the Waste Reduction and Prevention Act, an evaluation of Manitoba stewardship programs and the waste reduction and recycling support levy.

The government promised to engage with interested groups and the public. The review includes a public survey at EngageMB.ca which closes on Feb. 10.

“We are excited at the possibilities this review will explore as we continue to look for options to improve waste diversion and recycling in Manitoba,” Guillemard said in a statement.

“The intent is to improve programming and reduce the amount of waste heading to landfills.”

But MLA Lisa Naylor, the NDP’s environment critic, isn’t impressed.

“Manitobans want to create a cleaner environment for our kids, but we know with the PC government the word “review” is synonymous with cuts,” Naylor said in a statement.

“After they cut funding to environmental organizations that promote waste reduction, no one trusts the PCs to take meaningful action on recycling and waste management. Instead of taking real steps to address environmental concerns, the province is wasting time and moving to privatize more services. If they wanted to, the PCs could take immediate action today to create a greener Manitoba by supporting programs like composting and improving recycling processing.”

In May 2020, the Pallister government suspended funding to nine environmental groups, saying it needed the cash to help pay for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the groups that lost funding was the Green Action Centre, which promotes recycling and composting, as well as Climate Change Connection and the Manitoba Eco-Network.

“There has been significant consultation, reviews and recommendations related to waste practices and policies already,” said Tracy Hucul, executive director of the Green Action Centre. “The intergovernmental panel on climate change has made it clear that we are running out of time. What we need is action.

“The stats show us that 30 to 40 per cent of the waste in Manitoba landfills is organic materials. More needs to be done to support existing composting education and programs and we need an organics ban at the landfill.”

Hucul said recycling is not the solution and society “must move beyond advertising what can be recycled and why people should recycle, and instead focus on preventing waste in the first place and emphasize strategies that reduce waste at source, then re-use, and then recycling as a last option.”

She also said her organization would like to see the waste reduction levy be increased, so it is more in line with other provinces, adding the funds should be used to expand waste reduction and support programs.

“Environmental groups and non-profits are a cost-effective resource and are recognized as having an important role in educating and facilitating sustainable behaviour change, such as waste reduction, through community programs and engagement,” Hucul said.

“We hope that the province will reinstate annual funding to Green Action Centre and the other (groups) that do vital work in the community but had their funding cut.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca