WINNIPEG—If proposed legislation goes through, magazine, newspaper and catalogue publishers delivering copies in Manitoba will begin paying a levy on recyclable materials in the province beginning April 1, 2010.

According to a draft of the Packaging and Printed Paper Program Plan (P&PP) published by Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) in late May, industry will be hit levies of 1.723 cents/kg for newsprint, 3.161 cents/kg tax for magazines and other printed paper, 22.562 cents/kg for other paper materials, and a 28.140 cents/kg tax for poly material.

An industry and stakeholders consultation is under way and the final plan will be presented to government on June 22.

The tax will not directly affect printers.

The program is similar to Stewardship Ontario, though under Manitoba's P&PP, industry is responsible for 80% of net costs, compared to 50% in Ontario.

The magazine industry has long-complained about the fact that foreign publishers—despite accounting for much of what gets deposited into blue boxes—don't pay into these stewardship programs.