Ontario Environment Ministry to outline upcoming changes to WEEE and Hazardous Waste stewardship in the province
An important component in the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan is moving Ontario's existing waste diversion programs to the producer responsibility model. Transitioning Ontario's waste diversion programs includes two concurrent steps:
- Winding up the existing waste diversion programs and industry funding organizations under the Waste Diversion Transition Act (WDTA); and,
- Putting in place regulations under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA) to make producers fully responsible.
To date, both the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) programs have been directed to develop and submit wind up plans to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority. A revised direction letter was recently issued to Stewardship Ontario instructing them to wind up the battery portion of the MHSW program by June 30, 2020, which is the same day that the WEEE program will cease operation.
In order to enable transition from the existing waste diversion programs to the new producer responsibility framework, the Ministry is developing policy considerations for a new regulation that will be in place when the WEEE and battery programs cease operation (i.e. July 1, 2020).
The Ministry will hold two webinar sessions to provide an overview of the key elements and policy considerations that could be included in the new RRCEA regulation. The webinars will be held on:
• Wednesday, January 9, 2019 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
- Monday, January 14, 2019 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
Webinar participation should be confirmed by Friday, January 4, 2019 by contacting Zarnaaz Miran, Policy Advisor in the Resource Recovery Policy Branch at [email protected]. Webinar information will be provided upon registration.
