Statement from Minister Richard Mostyn on the new City of Whitehorse Recycling Program

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn has issued the following statement:

“Our government believes recycling is a crucial part of protecting the Yukon’s natural environment.

“Once Raven ReCentre decided to stop accepting non-refundable recyclable materials, Whitehorse residents faced a gap in recycling options before Extended Producer Responsibility regulations start in 2025. In light of this situation, the Yukon government felt it was important to ensure recycling continues in the Yukon’s largest municipality.

“While recycling is typically a municipal responsibility, we appreciated that the City of Whitehorse had concerns over the financial impacts of launching a new curbside recycling program. On short notice, we felt it was appropriate to offer up to half of the costs of launching a curbside recycling program for Whitehorse residents.

“Our funding offer of $2.4 million will cover up to half the costs of the City of Whitehorse’s new curbside collection program and the processing of the materials collected. Meanwhile, the Government of Yukon will continue to collect recyclable materials from depots across the territory, ensuring they are processed and shipped to southern markets.

“This two-year funding will conclude when the Extended Producer Responsibility – EPR – regulation is adopted in 2025. EPR will offer a sustainable solution to the underlying structural challenges facing the Yukon’s recycling system by shifting the cost of recycling from territorial government, municipalities and taxpayers to product manufacturers and producers.

"We are pleased the City of Whitehorse chose to modernize its waste-management services by introducing a curbside recycling collection program. The new program, along with a recycling depot at the City of Whitehorse’s solid-waste facility, will extend the life of the landfill and support Canada’s circular economy.

“We would also like to thank the Raven Recycling Society and P&M Recycling, which have led recycling efforts in Whitehorse for many years. Their participation in a recent Recycling Committee decision provided advice and guidance on improving recycling services following Raven’s announcement to cease processing non-refundable materials this year.

“Recycling is crucial to making the Yukon a greener place to live, and curbside recycling pickup in Whitehorse allows more people to access recycling services. This, in turn, diverts waste from the landfill, leading to cost savings in dealing with the garbage we produce. It takes commitment from all levels of government, business, industry and Yukoners alike to support a cleaner future for our territory.”