London Businesses Struggle with New Recycling Rules

Some business owners in London and environmental advocates are concerned that more recyclable materials will end up in landfills after changes were made to the province’s recycling program.

On January 1, the responsibility for the Ontario Blue Box program was transferred from cities to the companies that provide paper and packaging to residents.

While there haven’t been any changes to how residents’ recycling is picked up, businesses are now left out of weekly curbside collection.

“My initial reaction is this is awkward because you see my bins are right at the entrance of my business,” said Madheva Ellea, who owns Rascals Kitchen in the Southcrest neighbourhood.

“Pile ups [of recycling] will definitely affect the customer flow because no one wants … garbage to be seen on the premises, especially at a restaurant.”

Ellea mentioned that his restaurant recycles alcohol bottles, drink containers, cooking oil cans, and around 10 to 15 flattened cardboard boxes each week.

Madheva Ellea is the owner of Rascals restaurant. He says he recycles alcohol bottles, drink containers, cooking oil cans and cardboard boxes every week (Kendra Seguin/)

This past Wednesday morning, while residents just down the road from Rascals had their bins emptied, Ellea’s stack of cardboard was still sitting around the corner from his restaurant’s front door. He stated that his landlord is looking into alternative recycling pickup options but added that he can’t wait indefinitely for a solution.

“I need to get it to a nicer appearance to not offend my customers,” he said.

The City of London previously collected as many as 10 bins of recycling from businesses along residential routes on scheduled pickup days. Now, an external company called Circular Materials only picks up residential waste under new provincial regulations.

Kevin Morrison, executive director of Old East Village BIA, shared that he’s been receiving calls from frustrated business owners in his area about this change.

Morrison explained that businesses lacking time or resources to take large recyclables to an environmental depot or those who can’t afford an independent contractor are tossing their recyclables into regular trash instead.

London residents will not notice any changes to their blue bin pickup procedure or schedule; however, they can now recycle additional materials. (Kendra Seguin/)

“They said they don’t have the time. They’re too busy running their businesses, keeping doors open,” he said. “If you’ve got 50 pails to go out every two weeks because you’re a busy food establishment, how are you going to load that up into a vehicle and then take it to a depot?”

A setback for sustainability

This situation has raised concerns among local environmental leaders who believe these changes make it harder for companies wanting to stay eco-friendly.

“This might be great for the residents, great for the city and overall might be a better option, but sometimes when things like this happen and businesses are left behind, it’s unfortunate to see,” said Andrew Price, green economy manager at the London Environmental Network.

“Unfortunately, we see the sustainability front kind of vanishes. All that material goes into landfill,” he noted.

Diane Szoller from Thames Region Ecological Association expressed disappointment over some businesses throwing away recyclable materials instead of finding alternatives.

“I can understand their rationale on it,” she added “but if they have been recycling this is not a good reason to stop. They need to look at some innovation to continue.”

Kara Rijnen says she has started taking her recyclables home since changes took effect (Reimagine Co.)

At Reimagine Co., a package-free food takeout place downtown co-owner Kara Rijnen mentioned she has begun taking her recyclables home now instead.

“I was a little annoyed if I’m being totally honest because we are already excluded from the green bin program that city runs,” she shared. “I’ve been collecting compost here at store in a bin and bringing it home every week so it’s just one more thing I’ve got do now: grab recyclables take them home and set them in front my house.”

Rijnen also noted while she’s passionate about sustainability she understands why it’s not practical or doable for everyone else.

“This isn’t meant as criticism toward anyone but I sort of expected this would happen,” she remarked. “That doesn’t mean people don’t care about waste reduction; maybe it’s just lower priority for them; they don’t have time like I’m managing.”

New items allowed in residential bins

The new year brings some small updates regarding what residents can recycle as more items are accepted in blue bins now.

Londoners can recycle:

• Flexible plastic packaging like plastic bags and overwraps from paper towels toilet paper beverage cases;
• Foam packaging including meat trays takeout containers cups plates bowls;
• Tubes such as toothpaste deodorant hand creams;

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