The Prince George Chamber of Commerce has come out against the incoming new provincial recycling plan.
While the idea of a city-wide recycling program is looked upon favourably by many, the local chamber said it doesn't endorse the Multi-Material B.C. stewardship program for packaging and printed paper.
MMBC is representing the producers of the materials the province has mandated as responsible for collection effective May 19.
These materials include steel aerosol cans, plastic clamshell packages, milk cartons, aluminum foil packaging and certain types of drink cups.
In February, the province announced exemptions to the MMBC program that excluded thousands of business if they have annual revenues of less than $1 million, produce less than one tonne of packaging and printed paper annually; or operate from a single point of retail sale.
The chamber applauded those changes, but said Monday that additional problems remain.
"We've become aware of certain business models, like franchises and industry sectors, like newspapers and printers, that will face potential hardship under the MMBC program, as it stands," P.G. chamber president Ranjit Gill said, in a press release. "Each one of our member's businesses have a lot to lose. The fee structure currently proposed will inevitably lead to job losses, decreased operations and increased cost of associated products for consumers."
However, the chamber isn't adding its voice to the call for the province to delay or scrap the program.
"We do believe that it's unrealistic. As John Winter from the BC. Chamber [of Commerce]says, 'the train has left the station,'" said local chamber CEO Christie Ray.
The province's commitment to extended producer responsibility programs - like others across the country - and the potential for a large bill taxpayers would face if the program doesn't go ahead with so many contracts signed between MMBC and local governments, are the reasons the chamber gave for their stance.
"We know that it's going to move forward but we think that we can play a role, along with many others in the chamber network to help advocate to the provincial government to achieve a better program," said Ray.
To that end, the chamber invited MMBC managing director Allen Langdon to Prince George to speak with people directly about what the stewardship plan entails.
"There's a lot of wrong information in the community, there's a lot of confusion," said Ray. "We really just wanted to clarify so our members and the business community can know exactly what we're dealing with."
Langdon will give his overview on April 17, beginning at 1 p.m., at the Central B.C. Railway and Forestry Museum.
A second session, led by a representative from the B.C. Chamber of Commerce on April 22 at 10 a.m. in the P.G. chamber's boardroom, will focus on what the MMBC plan means for business owners, what other communities are doing and how the chamber network intends to advocate to the government for changes.
To register for these sessions, call the Chamber office at 250-562-2454 or register online at http://pgchamber.chambermaster.com/events.
Langdon will also be coming in front of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board members April 17. The regional district was left with a variety of questions as to what the May 19 start date would mean for their services.
