Ontario to scrap eco fees at the checkout counter

Liberals’ new waste reduction legislation places recycling costs upon producers, not the consumer, says Environment Minister Jim Bradley
By: Richard J. Brennan Toronto Star Jun 06 2013
The Liberal government is moving to scrap controversial consumer eco fees on things like tires and electronics.
Environment Minister Jim Bradley introduced waste reduction legislation Thursday that, among other things, will put the cost of recycling on the producers.

“Recycling is just another cost of doing business and should not appear on a sales slip,” Bradley told a Queen’s Park news conference, adding that competition will drive what producers ultimately pass on to the consumer.
The Waste Reduction Strategy Act, if passed, would end the practice of tacking on a fee at the checkout counter, which simply went back to the producers. The proposed act would replace the existing Waste Diversion Act.
“The cornerstone of the proposed act is ensuring individual producers take responsibility … for products they sell. If a company makes or imports a product, for example, that company would be financially responsible for ensuring it is properly … recycled,” Bradley told reporters.
“This legislation would also require all-in pricing. The advertised and shelf price of a product … would include any recycling costs … There will not be any surprises at the checkout counter (and) under the proposed law misrepresentation of recycling costs would be an offence.”
Tory MPP Michael Harris said the legislation is designed as much to “erase the misery of the last five years or so with the Liberals’ failed eco tax program.” Even so, he gave it guarded approval.
NDP MPP Jonah Schein told reporters said public oversight of the program is what will determine its success — “and not letting industry regulate itself, as it has been for a long time.”
Under the new act, industry-governed Stewardship Ontario, Ontario Electronic Stewardship and the Ontario Tire Stewardship — which were created by the Liberal government — are to be scrapped. For oversight, a new Waste Reduction Authority will be created with new powers to fine companies not living up to recycling goals.
Bradley said the legislation that provided for eco fees was “fatally flawed” because it was not reducing waste at anywhere near the rate the government had hoped for.
“Under the old law, recycling rates are stagnant at somewhere around 25 per cent … businesses and institutions are not pulling their weight on recycling,” he said.
“The primary goal of our proposed legislation is to recycle much more of the 12 million tonnes of waste we produce in this province each year,” the minister said, adding it could take up to five years to fully implement the recycling initiatives.

Ontario Government Proposes Legislation to Increase Recycling, Create Jobs
Ontario government news release June 6, 2013
Ontario is proposing legislation that, if passed, would require producers to take responsibility for recycling the products they sell.
The proposed Waste Reduction Act would encourage producers to turn more waste into new products, and in doing so generate new investment and create jobs. Ontario’s proposed Waste Reduction Strategy, also released today for public and stakeholder feedback, sets out a blueprint and timeline for how and when the proposed act would be implemented.
The proposed Waste Reduction Act and strategy would:
-Boost recycling in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector, starting with paper and packaging waste.
-Protect consumers from surprise eco-fees by making sure that recycling costs are included in the advertised price of a product. This move will also incent companies to look for ways to make their recycling processes more economical and stay competitive.
-Improve oversight and accountability of waste diversion by clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of individual producers, the provincial government, municipalities and a new Waste Reduction Authority.
-Allow for greater producer funding of the Blue Box program, easing the financial burden on municipal property taxpayers.
-Foster innovation in product and packaging design.
Recycling more waste is part of the new Ontario government’s plan to create jobs and build a stronger, greener economy for future generations.
QUICK FACTS
-Recycling generates ten times more jobs than disposal.
-Every additional 1,000 tonnes of recycled waste generates seven new jobs.
-About 60 per cent of Ontario’s waste is produced by industries, businesses and institutions such as shopping malls, hospitals and offices, but only 13 per cent of it is recycled.
-About 12 million tonnes of waste is generated in Ontario every year.