Surrey Board Of Trade Says No To Recycling Program

Surrey – The Surrey Board ofTrade is not supporting the newrecycling regime under thedirection of Multi-Materials ofBC.“The position was taken due toa rising number of concernsbeing raised by small businesses,which comprise a large percentageof our membership,” saidAnita Huberman, CEO.“We’re concerned that thefinancial and administrativeimpact on business will result inmuch higher fees required tocomply with the law, or administrativeloads necessary to complywith these additional levelsof red tape. This will increasethe cost to business and ineffect our economy.”The Surrey Board of Trade isconcerned that as businessescontinue to struggle with a stillfragile economy these additionalfees and administrative pressureswill force prices up, andcreate another level of bureaucracyimposed with little consultation,much ambiguity and noconsideration for the problemsnow coming to light. Certainsectors such as the printing andpublishing industries are facingserious consequences, whichthreaten their ability to continuein business at all.”This is not good for Surrey atall”, said Anita Huberman,CEO Surrey Board of Trade.There is considerable unhappinesswith the way the programhas been developed andimposed, with little apparentregard for the economic healthof the business sector, as well aslittle regard for programs, suchas newspaper recycling which isalready highly successful. Somebusinesses have charged thatthe changes will result in additionalcharges for this collection,which currently returnsabout $120 per tonne.At last year’s UBCM, the programwas hotly debated and anumber of communities rejectedthe financial incentives proposedby MMBC.