Bill 134 Original (PDF)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill amends the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. A new section 7.1 provides that no more than 60 days after the section comes into force, the Minister shall establish a working group to review source separated organics programs and to study the most effective methods for diverting organic waste from landfill sites. The new section provides for the composition of the working group and sets out the matters the working group must examine.
The working group must report their findings to the Minister within six months. The Minister must lay the report before the Legislative Assembly and provide a response to the report within three months after receiving the report.
A new section 7.2 requires the Minister to prepare annual reports respecting organic waste in landfill sites.
Bill 134 2026
An Act to amend the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
1 The Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 is amended by adding the following sections:
Organic Waste
Definitions
7 In sections 7.1 and 7.2,
“landfill site” means a waste disposal site, within the meaning of Part V of the Environmental Protection Act, where landfilling occurs; (“décharge”)
“source separated organics program” means a program operated by or for a municipality to separate organic waste from other waste. (“programme visant les matières organiques séparées à la source”)
Study of source separated organics programs
7.1 (1) No later than 60 days after the day this section comes into force, the Minister shall establish a working group to review source separated organics programs for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional properties and to study the most effective methods for diverting organic waste from landfill sites to appropriate composting facilities.
Working group composition
(2) The working group shall be composed of at least 11 members appointed by the Minister.
Same
(3) The members of the working group shall include persons with expertise in organic waste management and representatives from the following organizations:
1. The Authority.
2. Resident associations.
3. Landfill site operators.
4. Companies or organizations that provide services to collect, sort, process or haul waste.
Contents of review
(4) In conducting the review, the working group shall examine the following matters:
1. Progress on the Government of Ontario’s implementation of the “Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy”, published February 28, 2017.
2. The current state of organic waste in landfill sites, including,
i. the quantity of organic waste in landfill sites,
ii. the percentage of waste in landfill sites that is organic waste and the percentage of organic waste from residential, commercial, multi-residential, institutional and industrial properties, and
iii. greenhouse gas emissions produced by organic waste in landfill sites.
3. The primary factors that contribute to the disposal of organic waste in landfill sites.
4. The programs of comparable jurisdictions that have successfully diverted organic waste from landfill sites to appropriate composting facilities.
5. Strategies from programs mentioned in paragraph 4 that may result in successful diversion of organic waste in Ontario.
Report
(5) No later than six months after the working group is established, the working group shall report their findings to the Minister.
Same
(6) The report shall include,
(a) an explanation of the methodology used to conduct the review;
(b) findings from the review;
(c) recommended goals respecting the most effective methods for diverting organic waste from landfill sites to appropriate composting facilities; and
(d) short-term and long-term actions to achieve the recommended goals.
Report to Assembly and publication
(7) No later than 15 days after the day the Minister receives the working group’s report, the Minister shall,
(a) lay the report before the Legislative Assembly; and
(b) publish the report on a Government of Ontario website.
Response
(8) No later than three months after the day the Minister receives the working group’s report, the Minister shall provide a response respecting the report to the Legislative Assembly.
Publication of response
(9) The Minister shall publish the response on a Government of Ontario website as soon as possible after providing the response to the Legislative Assembly.
Annual report
7.2 (1) The Minister shall prepare an annual report to the public respecting organic waste in landfill sites that includes the following information:
1. An explanation of the Government of Ontario’s progress towards implementation of the “Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy”, published February 28, 2017.
2. The quantity of organic waste in landfill sites for the reporting year and a comparison to the quantity from the previous reporting year.
3. The percentage of waste in landfill sites for the reporting year that is organic waste and a comparison to the percentage from the previous reporting year.
4. The percentage of organic waste in landfill sites for the reporting year from residential, commercial, multi-residential, institutional and industrial properties.
5. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in landfill sites from organic waste deposited at the site.
6. A description of any programs to reduce the amount of organic waste in landfill sites that have been implemented and, for each program,
i. an explanation of actions taken that were successful and actions taken that were not successful, and
ii. an explanation of any changes to the program.
7. A description of any programs to reduce organic waste in landfill sites the Minister is examining for implementation.
8. A plan for reducing the amount of organic waste in landfill sites for the reporting year.
First report
(2) The Minister shall publish the first annual report no later than one year after the day the response mentioned in subsection 7.1 (8) is provided.
Requests for information
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the following persons and organizations shall provide such information respecting organic waste to the Minister as the Minister requests:
1. The Authority.
2. Municipalities.
3. Landfill site operators.
4. Companies or organizations that provide services to collect, sort, process or haul waste.
5. Owners of commercial, institutional and industrial properties.
Commencement
2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
3 The short title of this Act is the Diverting Waste from Landfills and Reducing Greenhouse Gases Act, 2026.