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Carl Lorusso of Wasteco. The Ontario Waste Management Association, founded in 1977,speaks for nearly 300 independent companies in the private sector who provide the products and services for a better environment. Our business is to protect the environment through the proper management of waste and recyclable materials. OWMA Direct Service members offer a broad range of services including waste collection and transport, processing, recycling, secondary market development and waste minimization counseling. These members operate landfills, transfer stations, material recovery and energy-from-waste facilities. OWMA Associate members include consultants, legal firms and equipment manufacturers and suppliers who offer a wide range of talent, expertise and machinery to improve waste management practices on a cost-effective basis. Our Industry People have been managing their wastes since the last century. Today, modern waste service companies utilize sophisticated collection and processing equipment and methods to deliver their services while protecting the environment. Both the public and the private sectors compete rigorously in Ontario's waste management industry. An OWMA member's survival depends on providing high quality services at cost-effective prices. The private waste industry handles more than 90% of Ontario's commercial/industrial waste stream and virtually all of its hazardous wastes. In addition, nearly 2/3 of Ontario's households have their waste and recyclable collected by OWMA members operating under contract with the householder's municipality. To maintain high productivity and to enhance our competitive edge, our members invest heavily in equipment, research and training. The result is beneficial to all: our customers, our communities and our environment. Our Contributions OWMA members are committed to a better environment, a safer workplace, exemplary service delivery and innovative solutions to waste management challenges. We set high standards for ourselves because our livelihood depends on public trust and confidence. We have an admirable record of initiating new waste management techniques while constantly emphasizing safety and environmental protection. We show municipalities how to save tax dollars by streamlining residential collection services. We show our commercial/industrial customers how to reduce their waste volume generation, thereby reducing their waste management costs. The "Blue Box" curbside multi-material recycling concept was started in Kitchener by an OWMA member. This program has spread throughout North America. We promote and provide household hazardous waste collection days, a popular and convenient way for homeowners to dispose of those wastes responsibly. We increase the public's awareness of waste management issues by providing educational materials. Our Issues OWMA takes an active role in promoting new standards and regulatory policies designed to improve the quality of waste management services. We have long advocated for a streamlined environmental approvals system that will help Ontario become self-sufficient in its waste management planning. We have urged the government to strengthen the powers of its environmental enforcement officers so that they can be more effective when dealing with lawbreakers. We actively promote safety in the workplace and have made submissions to the Workers' Compensation Board, the Workplace Health & Safety Agency and similar organizations. We support the use of new technologies and methodologies - like on-board weigh scale systems and user pay programs. Initiatives like these will reduce the costs of waste management services and/or distribute them more equitably. A Final Word Ontario is our home. Like other Canadians, OWMA members continue to place environmental issues at the top of their agenda. The essence of our business is environmental protection - but we have more than just a business interest in protecting Ontario's natural environment - we live here as well. If you wish to join the Ontario Waste Management Association, please visit the On-line Application Form, or the Contact Us page. |
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