Interesting, the Government is dumping the ECO fee. This was, in my opinion, an illegal tax. It was imposed by a non-governmental agency, Stewardship Ontario, and therefore had no authority to impose any tax, levy or fee. The saying no tax without representation applies here. Yes Stewardship Ontario is required to collect fees from manufacturers to offset costs of post use recycling of everything and manufacturers could pass along these costs to the consumer, but not as a tax, levy or fee.
I was surprised when I heard about this fee, being a member of the Mississippi Mills Waste Diversion Committee. Something in all the documentation I had read did not measure up with this fee. Anyway, it is one step closer to having the customer stop doing the post use work of separating their recyclables, which is the ultimate goal.
Phil Warland
Candidate for Councillor, Pakenham Ward
