B.C. launches stewardship program for small appliances

The BC Small Appliances stewardship program, the first of its kind in Canada, officially began on April 1, 2011. The program is in accordance with a plan filed by the Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association (CESA). The Electronics and Electrical Product Category (Schedule 3) in the Recycling Regulation includes a category for small appliances.  

CESA says they have worked with the Product Care Association (the not-for-profit industry association that develops, implements and manages stewardship programs across Canada.) Product Care's mandate covers various product categories including household hazard, special waste and e-waste, and  has been contracted by CESA as the program manager for their BC Small Electronic and Electrical Appliances Recycling Program. CESA and Product Care worked with several appliance manufacturer associations in the development of the stewardship program plan, and the program has been approved by the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The program is being funded by environmental handling fees remitted to the association by its members based on product category and sales in B.C.

In the first months of the program, CESA says they will establish and operate a collection system across the province to collect the end-of-life program products, and that a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) for collection site services has been distributed to potential collection sites.  

Associations involved include the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association, Canadian Hardware and Housewares Manufacturers Association and Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

British Columbia is the first Canadian province to regulate a legal requirement for an end-of-life recycling program for small appliances. See the Approved Program Plan and the BC Recycling Regulation for more information.