07/11/2025
Hey Magazines Canada Members in Ontario! The Government of Ontario has proposed a number of changes to the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA), 2016, and Magazines Canada is lobbying on this important topic. Over the next two weeks, there is an opportunity for members like you to add your voice to the public consultation process to make sure that magazines have a seat at the table now and going forward.
The RRCEA is Ontario’s framework for reducing waste and increasing the reuse and recycling of products and packaging through producer responsibility. Under this law, producers—including many magazine publishers—are required to cover the full cost of recycling the printed paper and packaging materials they supply into the market, which has imposed new financial and administrative burdens on magazine publishers. The Government of Ontario is proposing changes that would improve data collection and system oversight, improve transparency for producers like you by requiring Producer Responsibility Organizations to disclose more detailing and operational data for easier comparison, and is separately delaying the enforcement of mandatory recovery targets by five years (from 2026 to 2031).
Magazines Canada is supporting these changes and also asking for targeted financial relief for magazine publishers by extending the newspaper exemption, advocating for opportunities for public education partnerships through agreements with magazine publishers, and calling for a small publisher impact study to ensure cultural media producers are brought into long-term conversations about the impacts of legislation and patchwork legislation across the country.
Now through July 21, members of the public can submit comments on the proposed RRCRA changes directly on the Environmental Registry of Ontario at the link below. This is your opportunity to get your concerns about Ontario’s End Producer Responsibility (EPR) program on the record, including:
—How have EPR costs and administrative requirements impacted your business and ability to serve the Ontario market?
—Do you feel that magazine publishers’ concerns are being adequately considered in legislation?
—Do you believe that magazines should be treated like packaging or, like newspapers, given an exemption?
—Note: Do not include any identifying information, like names, addresses or phone numbers in your comments.
Have your say today...or before July 21!!
https://ero.ontario.ca/user/login?action=comment&destination=/comment/reply/node/14040/comment
