Ontario's curbside recycling program is one of the most cost-effective recycling systems in the world. By further comparison, to recycle the same kinds of materials in Europe's recycling system costs citizens living there ten times as much as Ontario's system. Ontario's recycling program is extremely cost-efficient at about a dollar a month per household. The packaging and consumer products industries in Canada are world leaders in environmentally-responsive packaging. Ontario's consumer goods and packaging industries have been a major contributor to Ontario's curbside recycling system from the start.
Aluminum cans continue to be consumers' most preferred beverage package.
The soft drink and packaging industries are working to improve the system and to increase recovery rates. The majority of today's packages have a significant average recycled content which means they re-use natural materials such as trees, minerals, oil and gas, sand and limestone. In a curbside system, citizens pay a share in taxes, except the curbside system costs citizens less because it is more economical. If you think about it, the logic is clear. This adds cost.