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Frequently Asked Questions
General
1) What is EEE? EEE refers to new electrical and electronic equipment supplied for use in Ontario and WEEE is any designated EEE that is made available for reuse, refurbishment, recycling or end-of-life (EOL) management under the program.
2) What is WEEE? The term WEEE is applied to both consumer and business electronic equipment. Under the Ontario Minister of the Environment’s request for a WEEE diversion program, electronic products designated as “Phase 1” are classified into the following categories: desktop computers, portable computers, monitors, computer peripherals, televisions, and various printing devices. Additional WEEE identified in Ontario Regulation 393/04 will be added to the list of designated materials in Phase 2 of the program. A program plan for Phase 2 must be delivered to the minister in July 2009. EEE becomes WEEE when the owner of the product determines they no longer want it.
3) Why has WEEE been centered out for a special diversion program? In Ontario, more than 91,000 tonnes of electrical and electronics equipment are available for reuse and recycling every year. About one-quarter of it is being managed properly. Under normal usage, unwanted electronics poses little or no hazards. However, many electronic products do contain materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury, that if not handled properly could have environmental impacts and cause health and safety concerns. Thus, the safe handling and proper management of WEEE at the end of its life is crucial. The Minister of the Environment designated WEEE for a special diversion program to ensure that unwanted electronics are reused or recycled, and to stem the flow of these materials to landfill or improper processing in developing nations.
4) Who is obligated under the WEEE Program Plan? Companies that are brand owners, first importers into Ontario, and/or assemblers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), or franchisors are obligated to cover 100% of the costs of the WEEE Program Plan in Ontario; including collection, transporting and processing costs. These companies, called stewards, will remit fees to OES based on the number of units of designated electrical and electronic equipment they supply into Ontario.
5) When do WEEE obligations take effect? The WEEE program starts on April 1, 2009. In the meantime, Ontario Electronic Stewardship is developing the infrastructure and administrative requirements to operate the program.
6) When and how do we register? The registration form for stewards of Phase 1 WEEE including brand owners, first importers and assemblers can be accessed by clicking on https://mtsreg.oesdatasystem.ca/login.aspx.
To register to become an OES service provider or steward of WEEE, click on the <New Application for Registration> button. Companies need only complete this once. Complete the mandatory registration fields and self declare how you plan to apply (as a “steward” of WEEE and/or OES collector). Please check all applicable fields for which you wish to register/apply. Keep your login email and password for future reference. The system will generate an application number for stewards of WEEE. Stewards of WEEE will also receive an OES steward number. Keep this information for your records.
7) What is a Steward’s Report? An EEE Steward’s Report is a report prepared by an EEE Steward and filed with OES. It describes the aggregate amount of EEE that the Steward (or its franchisees and/or affiliates) supplied to a person resident in Ontario in the data period. The report must contain the information required by Appendix B of the WEEE Program Plan.
8) What level of detail is needed to file a Steward's Report? All obligated stewards are required to file individual monthly EEE Steward’s Reports from the commencement date of the program (April 1, 2009). A Steward Guidebook will be published to help stewards determine their obligation.
9) How do we calculate our fees? The amount of steward’s fees is calculated in accordance with the fees charged per each type of EEE unit and multiplied by the number of units sold during the reporting period.
10) How should a large company (e.g. holding company) with several divisions, subsidiaries or many brands report its obligations? Are individual Steward's Reports required for each division, subsidiary or brand or will a single report filed by head office suffice? It is up to the individual company to determine if they wish to report as separate divisions or as one company as there are no exemptions; each unit of EEE generates a fee.
11) Can I charge an eco fee on WEEE sold? The WEEE diversion program does not tell the companies that are obligated to pay fees on the designated products how to manage these costs. It is up to the individual companies and their retail customers to make their own decisions. Some companies will internalize the cost, while others may charge consumers an environmental handling fee at the point of purchase.
12) Is PST and/or GST applicable to steward’s fees? OES is waiting on a GST ruling from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with respect to its WEEE program. Until such time as this ruling is received, OES will be charging GST on fees to stewards obligated for EEE under the WEEE program upon the start of the program. Stewards will be advised of the WEEE GST status as soon as a ruling is received. PST does not apply.
Please note that OES has been advised by the Ministry of Revenue on Retail Sales Tax as it applies to Stewards who make the business decision to pass the fee onto their clients. Please review the Information on Ministry of Revenue on Retail Sales Tax.
13) Is this a tax? All fees collected from Ontario stewards of WEEE will go towards covering the program’s direct costs of collection, transportation, consolidation, end-of-life management and administration. In addition, funds will be used for public education and awareness, research and development, continuous improvements in technology and program execution. The program is managed by Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) which is a not-for-profit organization of brand owners and retailers of electrical and electronic equipment. None of the fees collected from obligated companies will go to government; therefore’ it is not a tax.
14) If products are purchased for resale would they attract a steward’s fee? A company would be obligated to file a Steward’s Report for the EEE sold for which it is the brand owner, first importer, franchisor during the data period, e.g. each reporting period. Therefore, if you are purchasing a product for which you are the first importer, you will be obligated to remit steward fees to OES. If you are not the brand owner, first importer, assembler or franchisor during the data period, you are not obligated to report on the EEE. Please review the rules for further definitions.
15) If the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) resident in Ontario supplies EEE to an Ontario broker who then ships the EEE to a retailer, is the last seller of Phase 1 EEE responsible for filing a Steward’s Report? The Ontario program differs from other provincial electronics programs where obligation may fall upon the last seller at point of purchase. Stewards are brand owner, first importer, franchisor, or assembler of EEE and they are obligated to file a Steward’s Report for the aggregate amount of EEE that the steward supplied to a person resident in Ontario in the data period. This means that since the OEM has Ontario residency and is the brand owner both the broker and the last retailer as the resellers do not own the brand, the obligation for reporting would fall upon the OEM as the Steward.
16) What is a Remitter’s Agreement? The Rules allow organizations that may or may not be stewards under the WEEE Program Plan to enter into Remitter’s Agreements with Ontario Electronic Stewardship and organizations designated as EEE Stewards.
A Remitter's Agreement is an agreement among OES, a remitter and a person designated under the Rules as an EEE steward. It provides for the remitter to file a Remitter’s Report and pay steward fees to OES on behalf of a steward who supplies EEE into Ontario. The remitter must inform the steward of the amount of steward fees paid to OES. OES is developing a separate agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of this arrangement.
17) What is a Remitter’s Report? A Remitter’s Report is a report prepared by a remitter and filed with OES on behalf of a steward, pursuant to a Remitter’s Agreement. It describes the aggregate amount of EEE that was supplied by the remitter in Ontario in the data period on behalf of the steward and contains the information required by Appendix C in the Rules. The agreement is entered into between the steward, the remitter and OES.
Administrative FAQs (for Stewards)
17) How do I change my company's address, name, contact information? Send an email to customerservice@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca with your company’s previous/current address and your company’s new address. Please ensure you include suite/unit number and postal code. Also, include any change in phone/fax numbers. If there is no change to phone numbers please indicate this in the email.
18) I forgot my password, what do I do? Send an email to customerservice@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca with your application registration or steward number.
Material Specific Phase 1 EEE FAQs (for Stewards)
19) Are servers excluded from Phase 1 EEE? Yes, stand alone servers are excluded; however, desktop computers acting as servers are included within Phase 1 EEE.
20) Are peripherals bundled with desktop computers, i.e. one desktop CPU + one keyboard + one mouse – considered desktop computers? A fee is charged on each Phase 1 EEE material. The CPU would attract a separate fee from the peripherals. The Guidebook for Stewards illustrates the EEE fee schedule. If components/peripherals are installed inside the original CPU, stewards would be obligated to report on the CPU. If these peripherals are sold as a stand alone or as replacement parts, you will be responsible for reporting on each EEE peripheral.
21) Do Phase 1 peripheral EEE materials attract a fee regardless of the EEE they are supporting, i.e. desktop peripherals would attract a fee as well as server peripherals? Yes, all peripherals listed under Phase 1 will attract a fee. These include hard drives for a server as well as peripherals for desktops including drives, keyboard and/or mice as described in Section 7.3 of the WEEE Program Plan.
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1) What is WEEE? WEEE stands for “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment,” as designated in Ontario Regulation 393/04, and is the informal name for the variety of electrical and electronic products that are no longer wanted by their owners. A variety of options exist for waste electronics, including reuse, refurbishment and recycling.
2) How will Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) increase the collection of WEEE? OES will recover WEEE through a variety of collection sites including steward and retailer recycling activities, contracted municipal sites and events, contracted other collection sites and events, directly from industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) generators, and contracted reuse, refurbishment and recycling sites. OES approved collectors and collections sites that collect, sort and prepare WEEE for transport according to OES requirements may receive a financial collection incentive.
3) What are the benefits of participating in the Ontario Electronic Stewardship Program? Participation will ensure that the costs of collection equipment, transportation and processing of Phase 1 WEEE are covered by the fees collected from brand owners, first importers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) who are obligated to discharge their legal obligations under the Waste Diversion Act (WDA).
Municipalities can benefit in the OES program by expanding recycling services to their residents.
4) Is there a collection incentive to become an OES approved collector/collection site? OES approved collection sites/collectors will receive a weight-based financial incentive of $165 per tonne of Phase 1 materials received, sorted and prepared for transport by an OES approved service provider.
5) Will all collectors receive the $165 per tonne incentive? Only collection sites that are accessible to the public and collect all or a subset of Phase 1 materials will qualify for the incentive. Stewards who take back consumer returns and end-of-lease material for a subset of Phase 1 WEEE will not receive a collection incentive. Collections sites that accept a subset of Phase 1 WEEE that does not include all brands will not receive the collection incentive. Retailers and municipalities who host an OES “Round-Up” event will not receive the collection incentive. Direct shipment of Phase 1 WEEE from IC&I generators to consolidation centers will not receive the incentive.
6) Who is eligible to become a collector/collection site? Any site that participates voluntary, registers with OES, meets the OES performance and compliance requirements and is approved by OES can become a collector/collection site.
7) Why does OES require collectors/collection sites to meet performance and compliance requirements?
OES approved collection sites need to ensure that they provide high-quality and reliable services to WEEE generators, and ensure that the health and safety of all staff handling WEEE materials are maintained. In addition, they need to ensure compliance with all environmental performance requirements, and current organizational compliance with all applicable municipal, provincial, and federal regulations and requirements.
8) What are the collection and packaging requirements? In the initial start up of the OES program collectors will be required to segregate Phase 1 WEEE materials into three groups:
Group 1– Desktop and portable computers
Group 2 – Display devices (including monitors and televisions)
Group 3 – Printing devices and peripherals
Group 1 and 2 materials will be stacked, palletized, shrink -wrapped and prepared for transport. Group 3 materials will be bulk bagged or placed in a Gaylord box.
9) Is every municipality required to provide WEEE (or EEE) services to participate in the Ontario Electronic Stewardship program? Municipal participation in the WEEE program is voluntary and each municipality choosing to participate in the program will apply as a collector with OES. OES approved collectors and collections sites that collect, sort and prepare WEEE for transport according to OES requirements will receive a financial collection incentive. There is no obligation to participate in the WEEE diversion program; however, all municipalities are encouraged to volunteer.
10) Could municipalities use Gaylord packaging for all WEEE collected? OES has agreed to allow for specific deviation from OES sorting and packaging requirements for municipalities for the first year of the program. In addition to using Gaylord boxes and or/bulk bags to package peripherals and printing devices, Gaylords can be used for packaging desktop and portable computers and display devices.
11) Are retailers, not-for-profit organizations and/or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Ontario required to take back WEEE? Retailers, OEMs and not-for-profit organizations are not required to take back WEEE. OES will recover WEEE through a variety of collection sites including steward and retailer recycling activities, contracted municipal sites and events, other contracted collection sites and events, direct IC&I generators, and contracted reuse, refurbishment and recycling sites. OES approved collectors and collections sites that collect, sort and prepare WEEE for transport according to OES requirements may receive a financial collection incentive.
12) How will existing steward/retailer take back and returns be affected by this program? Because the OES encourages and provides incentives to expand current collection programs, independently established steward or retailer collection, end-of-lease material and take-back initiatives can coincide with the WEEE program. . Stewards who operate take-back programs that collect all or a subset of Phase 1 WEEE will be required to apply for approval to become an OES collection site. If approved, the retailer would collect, sort and package WEEE according to OES “Sorting and Packaging Requirements.”
13) How will retailer special collection events develop? OES will encourage and support retailers of EEE who choose to undertake special collection events for WEEE. If retailers wish to coordinate events with OES, they will receive handing equipment and transportation and processing services. Retailers would be responsible for staffing. If retailers choose to host collection events, OES will provide “Round-Up” event services. Special events can range in frequency from one to several events per season based on OES accessibility objectives.
14) What is an OES “Round-Up” Event? OES will offer event hosts an OES-sponsored, turnkey collection event service that will include the provision of trained labour, packaging services and transportation off Phase 1 material to an approved OES processor. These events can be coordinated between hosts and OES to determine if a “Round-Up” event would be the best option to increase consumer access to collection locations.
15) How will existing waste management and recycling companies be impacted? Could existing waste management and recycling companies become collectors? Existing waste management companies can become approved OES collectors by meeting the OES compliance, sorting and packaging requirements. They may be eligible to receive the $165 per tonne collection incentive which would allow them to provide new or enhanced services to their existing consumers.
16) Can second hand material collection organizations become OES approved collectors? Second hand organizations can become approved OES collectors and receive the same $ 165 per tonne collection incentive.
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1) Is Ontario Electronic Stewardship causing a negative impact on the businesses of some reusers? Under the WEEE Program, reuse and refurbishment will be promoted as the first option under the 3Rs hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle) to deal with unwanted WEEE materials. Reuse will be an integral part of the promotion and education campaign that will reach out to all consumers and generators of WEEE. The WEEE Program will allow reuse organizations to operate as they do currently, and provide additional benefits including free promotion, advertising and awareness, higher collection volumes, and relief from transportation and end-of-life processing costs. These benefits are outlined in Section 7.4, Table 7.9 of the WEEE Program Plan.
2) In order to become an OES approved reuser/refurbisher organization, what standards does my organization have to meet? The WEEE Reuse and Refurbishment Standard defines minimum requirements for managing WEEE through reuse/refurbish organizations. All applicants including the reuser/refurbisher and downstream processors will be asked to demonstrate how they meet this standard to ensure the reuse/refurbishment activities meet data security standards, and all actives are conducted in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
3) Can a reuser/refurbisher organization apply to become multi-service provider under the WEEE Program? Yes, please indicate which services you wish to provide during the self-declaration portion of the registration. To register, please navigate to https://mtsreg.oesdatasystem.ca/login.aspx and follow instructions provided.
4) Do I need to apply to become an OES collector if I am already applying to become an OES approved reuser/refurbisher? Once you have met the OES specification for reuse/refurbishment you can act as an OES collections site for WEEE that you find has no reuse or refurbishing value. Should your company only wish to apply to provide the services of a collector you must register at https://mtsreg.oesdatasystem.ca/login.aspx and meet the collection application requirements.
5) Can an OES approved reuser/refurbisher bid on collected Phase 1 WEEE that it wishes to reuse/refurbish? Only Phase 1 WEEE collected by the approved reuser/refurbisher organization can be considered for reuse or refurbishment activities. WEEE that is not reused/refurbished must be packaged according to OES collector site specification and will be transported by OES to regional consolidation centers where it will be allocated to approved primary processors/recyclers. The plan does not allow a biding process for collected materials that could be reused as the end-of-life user determines the destination (whether end-of-life or reuse) of their WEEE.
6) Will a reuser/refurbisher receive an incentive for reuse/refurbishing activities? No. Once it becomes approved, the reuser/refurbisher will have the ability to reuse or refurbish any of the Phase 1 materials that it collects. A reuser/refurbisher will be able to collect an incentive from OES for any Phase 1 WEEE material that it does not have the capacity to reuse or refurbish providing the WEEE is sorted and prepared for transport to OES consolidation centers for subsequent allocation to OES approved primary processors.
7) What type of incentive will a reuser/refurbisher receive for collection? All approved OES collection sites/collectors will receive an incentive of $165 per tonne of Phase 1 WEEE that is non-reusable or non-refurbishable providing the WEEE is sorted and prepared for transport to OES consolidation centers for subsequent allocation to OES approved primary processors.
8) I am an IC&I generator and I choose to have my equipment sent for reuse. How can I participate in the program? If a generator chooses to have its WEEE sent to a reuse or refurbishment location, OES will provide a list of all OES approved reuse and refurbishment organizations to assist the generator. The generator is responsible for the transportation cost to the reuse or refurbishment locations.
9) If the reuser/refurbisher organization becomes an OES approved processor, will it have the ability to bid through the request for proposal (RFP) process for materials it wishes to recycle? Any OES approved processor can participate in the competitive RFP process to recycle WEEE on a regional basis. Each bid lot for recycling specific quantities of WEEE will involve two separate streams of WEEE and separate bids:
- Stream 1: Display devices – including computer monitors and televisions
- Stream 2: Computers/ peripherals/ printers – including desktop and portable computers, printers and peripherals
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1) How will OES ensure the highest level of performance and compliance in the recycling of WEEE materials? The OES Program Plan requires all processors to adhere to an Electronic Recycling Standard (ERS) (reference Appendix 9a of the WEEE Program Plan) which is based upon the Recycling Vendor Qualification Standard (RVQS) originally developed by Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC). In addition to this national standard, the OES Standard is compatible with the Waste Diversion Act (WDA), other Ontario regulations including Regulation 347 and Ontario waste management policies.
2) Do any other provinces utilize the RVQS standard developed by EPSC? In addition to Ontario’s ERS, the Provinces of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia subscribe to the RVQS standard.
3) What regulatory requirements must be met to become an approved OES processor of WEEE? Interested processors should familiarize themselves with WEEE Appendix 9a Electronics Recycling Standard and 9b Recycling Standard Guidance Document. They must meet the Processor Qualification and Selection Process in Appendix 9c to verify whether they meet OES’ standards for end-of-life processing. They also must meet the Ontario Specific Compliance requirements outlined in Appendix 12 of the WEEE Program Plan. If approved by the Ontario Electronic Stewardship Board, processors will have the opportunity to submit bids on various and continuous WEEE allocation RFPs.
4) Do downstream processors need to meet the OES Recycling Standard? It is the responsibility of the primary processor during their qualification process to ensure that all downstream processors meet the OES Recycling Standards.
5) Why do downstream processors need to meet the OES Recycling Standards? WEEE primary processors need to ensure their downstream processors meet a set of vendor qualification requirements to ensure WEEE is processed in a safe and environmentally sound manner that satisfies local, provincial and national legislations as outlined by the Minister of the Environment’s Program Request Letter.
6) My company has successful completed the audit process and was placed onto the OES “Approved Processor List.” What is the process for allocating collected WEEE materials? Processors on the approved processor list will be able to compete for WEEE on a regional basis through an RFP process that is open and transparent, using pre-defined, published evaluation criteria.
7) My company is an OES approved processor. Do I need to be recertified annually? The approval of primary and downstream processors is valid for a period of three years after which a re-assessment will be required.
8) I am in the electronics recycling business. Is OES contemplating entering into a contract with a single firm, or a few selected firms, to process these materials? OES through its application and evaluation process will present both existing and new processors the opportunity to meet OES standards and qualify as an OES approved processor under the program.
9) How do processors get selected to receive WEEE for processing? Interested processors must first go through the “Processor Qualification and Selection Process” to verify whether they meet OES’ standards for end-of-life processing. If approved by the OES Board of Directors, processors will have the opportunity to submit bids on various and continuous WEEE allocation RFPs.
Evaluation of processor RFP responses to OES will be based on specific evaluation criteria:
- Recycling performance, including waste diversion percentage and innovative approaches
- Ability to meet processing capacity requirements
- Distance from WEEE consolidation centers to the processing facility, and
- Cost (price quoted for service)
Based on the processor’s total score and the quantity of WEEE available for processing, the OES Board will allocate WEEE to processors.
10) Does OES support opportunities for new entrants for the processing of WEEE? OES is seeking to ensure an open and competitive market for processing services under the program; therefore, it encourages and provides incentives which are outlined in the WEEE Program Plan, Section 5.5.2 to promote new entrants.
11) Is Ontario Electronic Stewardship attempting to control the marketplace by approving only a certain number of WEEE processors in Ontario? It is not the intention of OES to control or limit the number of WEEE processors receiving material under the program. However, in order to ensure minimum environmental, health and safety standards within WEEE processing operations, OES has implemented a stringent “Processor Qualification and Selection Process” under which these standards must be met. Only those processors that meet OES’ standards will be considered to provide services to OES. The WEEE allocation process by which OES-approved processors receive waste electronics for processing is designed to ensure program effectiveness and efficiency through a competitive RFP process under which OES-approved processors must bid for set quantities of WEEE. OES is committed to review the allocation process to ensure program objectives are effectively met. This process will include on-going consultation with stakeholders during program implementation, and throughout the first year of the program at various stages.
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1) Who can become a consolidator/ transporter of WEEE? A consolidation facility is a location used to receive and bulk WEEE from collection agents and for subsequent transport to a primary processor. A transporter is a company who transports source separated WEEE materials to a consolidation point or primary processor.
2) I want to become an OES approved consolidator/transporter. What do I do? Interested consolidators and or transporters will be contracted via an equitable and competitive tendering process that is open to all qualified transport service providers. Please check the OES website for updates.
3) Who will cover the transport cost of WEEE? OES will oversea the transportation of collected WEEE from various collection points. It also will cover the transportation costs from collection zones to consolidation centers and from consolidations centers to approved OES processors.
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1) What is WEEE? WEEE stands for “Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment,” as designated in Ontario Regulation 393/04. It is the informal name for the variety of electrical and electronic products that are no longer wanted by their owners. A variety of options exist for waste electronics, including reuse, refurbishment and recycling.
2) What products are defined as WEEE? The term WEEE is applied to both consumer and business waste electrical and electronic equipment. Under the Ontario Minister of the Environment’s Program
request Letter, WEEE has been designated in phases with “Phase 1” including desktop computers, portable computers, monitors, computer peripherals, televisions and various printing devices. The Phase 2 WEEE plan is to be submitted to the minister by July 9, 2009.
3) Why has WEEE been centered out for a special diversion program? In Ontario, more than 91,000 tonnes of electrical and electronics equipment are available for reuse and recycling every year. About one-quarter of it is being managed properly. Under normal usage, unwanted electronics poses little or no hazards. However, many electronic products do contain materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury, that if not handled properly could have environmental impacts and cause health and safety concerns. Thus, the safe handling and proper management of WEEE at the end of its life is crucial. The Minister of the Environment designated WEEE for a special diversion program to ensure that unwanted electronics are reused or recycled, and to stem the flow of these materials to landfill or improper processing in developing nations.
4) How is WEEE currently handled in Ontario? There are a variety of paths that WEEE may follow:
- A number of electronics manufacturing companies have existing take-back programs that customers can access, most for a fee, to ensure that WEEE is recycled properly.
- Many municipalities in Ontario are currently collecting WEEE from residents at municipal landfills, depots and special event collection days.
- A number of non-profit organizations exist in Ontario that accept donations of working/ valuable WEEE from consumers for reuse and refurbishment in community educational and/or outreach capacities.
- Some private processing operations in Ontario accept WEEE products, at a fee to the consumer, for reuse, refurbishment or recycling of parts.
- Some brokers will take end-of-life WEEE and ship them to any number of developing nations for processing, often without adequate environmental, health or safety considerations.
5) Why does Ontario need a WEEE diversion plan? An estimated 91,000 tonnes of WEEE is generated each year in Ontario. About one-quarter of it is recovered for recycling. However, most of it goes to landfill or is exported to unknown oversea locations. This program will encourage great diversion of these materials through reuse as well as safe, environmentally-sound recycling of the various components. Many electronic products contain valuable materials that can be recovered and put back into the manufacture of the next generation of electronics, helping conserve natural resources such as copper and steel. This process requires a significant commitment to safe and proper collection, transportation, management and, when necessary, diversion of these products.
6) When does the WEEE Program Plan take effect? When can I start to take my electronics to a collection place? The WEEE program starts on April 1, 2009. In the meantime, OES is building the infrastructure and administrative requirements to operate the program.
7) What options will be available to consumers wanting to get rid of their unwanted electronics? Under the WEEE program several collection opportunities will be made available in order to ensure a minimum level of accessibility to all Ontarians. These localized collection options may include, and are not limited to: return-to-retail programs, special municipal collection events and depots, sponsored electronics ‘Round-Up’ events, collection by non-profit organizations and processors, as well as existing recycling programs offered by electronics’ manufacturers. These collection points will be available at the start of the program in April 2009.
8) How do I find a collection site or event in my community? After the program launches on April 1, 2009, watch your local newspaper for information about WEEE collection locations. The promotion program will include advertisements and a special website that will contain information that will direct consumers to nearby collection locations.
9) Will WEEE collection and reuse options be available everywhere in Ontario right away? It will take a few years to expand the program fully across Ontario. OES will work with interested municipalities, retailers and other collectors to ensure that convenient opportunities are provided for people in all parts of Ontario to get rid of their unwanted WEEE at a collection event or facility beginning in April 2009.
10) What do consumers do with WEEE products that are not included in this program? Municipalities, processors, and reuse and refurbishment organizations may collect a variety of waste electronic products that are not designated by the Ministry of the Environment as Phase 1 WEEE. Consumers are advised to contact their municipalities and local organizations to confirm accepted materials and disposal procedures. Some of these products may be included in future phases of the program.
11) Why won't deposits work for electronic waste? Both the size of the environmental fees and the relatively long-life (up to 20 years for TVs) of the designated electronics mean deposit systems are not workable for this program. Imagine waiting up to 20 years to get a deposit back. As well, many electrical and electronic products change hands many times, which would create complexities in who would redeem the deposit. Further, how would varying interest rates accumulated on deposits held for years be divvied up and which body would be accountable for holding the funds?
12) Why start with a small list of products? Why not include all electronics? Stewardship programs that ensure products and packaging are managed appropriately at the end of their useful lives are complex and require the development of an adequate and convenient collection infrastructure. Unlike other materials already being recycled, for example, blue box materials, the infrastructure for broad-based WEEE recovery still needs to be established. By introducing the program in stages, the collection infrastructure, once established, can be tested before additional materials are added to the program.
13) Will it cost me anything to take old electronics to a collection event or facility? You will be able to drop-off unwanted WEEE at OES-approved collection locations. For each collection location, we suggest that you check which materials are accepted by www.dowhatyoucan.ca. In many, but not all cases, you will be able to drop-off materials free-of-charge. Please note, that while OES provides support to many municipal, private and not-for-profit organizations under the program, OES cannot guarantee that all collectors will provide collection services free-of-charge. We recommend that you call ahead to determine if a charge applies.
14) Who is paying for this program? Companies that are brand owners, first importers into Ontario, and/or manufacturers of designated electrical and electronic equipment are obligated to cover 100% of the costs of the WEEE Program Plan in Ontario including collection, transporting and processing costs and provincial promotion and education campaign. These companies, called stewards, will remit fees based on the number of units of designated electrical and electronic equipment that they supply into Ontario.
15) Who will run this new WEEE program? Companies that are brand owners, first importers into Ontario and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment have formed an organization called Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES). OES is a non-profit body that will manage the collection of fees from the various companies obligated under this program and then use the fees to pay for the diversion program. This will include collection, transportation, consolidation, end-of-life management of WEEE that cannot be reused or recycled, public education and awareness, research and development, continuous improvements in technology and program execution.
16) Can retailers / manufacturers of EEE charge consumers an eco fee when they purchase these products? The WEEE diversion program does not tell the companies that are obligated to pay fees on the designated products how to manage these costs. It is up to the individual companies and their retail customers to make their own decisions. Some companies will internalize the cost, while others may charge consumers an environmental handling fee at the point of purchase.
17) Is this a tax? All fees collected from Ontario stewards of WEEE will go towards covering the program’s direct costs of collection, transportation, consolidation, end-of-life management and administration. In addition, funds will be used for public education and awareness, research and development, continuous improvements in technology and program execution. The program is managed by OES which is a not-for-profit organization of brand owners and retailers of electrical and electronic equipment. None of the fees collected from obligated companies will go to government; therefore, it is not a tax.
18) Is industry making a profit through this program? No. The collective fees assigned to the various products amount to the cost of the WEEE diversion program and no more. Operation of the stewardship program will be undertaken by OES which is a not-for-profit organization of brand owners and retailers of EEE. The entire program will be transparent and audited annually and OES will be accountable to Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO), a non-crown agency of the Ministry of the Environment.
19) What about personal information that may be on computer equipment? Ontario Electronic Stewardship has incorporated several policy measures designed to ensure reasonable protection of private information:
- The owner of the information contained on the unwanted electronic product will determine whether it gets sent for reuse, refurbishment or recycling. The owner will be responsible for ensuring that data is destroyed.
- OES-approved collection sites will need to meet OES’ security requirements.
- Contracts with collection, transportation and consolidation service providers (excluding reuse and refurbishment organizations) will prohibit the removal of parts or items.
- Reuse and recycling processing vendors will have to meet OES’ minimum requirements for adequate security measures.
20) Where could I obtain a recycled/refurbished computer? The WEEE program does not distribute recycled computers but is intended to fuel growth in the electronics reuse and refurbishment sector, boost recycling and ensure end-of-life information technology and consumer electronics will be managed in an environmentally responsible manner. However, it will include the names and locations of organizations that offer recycled/refurbished computer on the public information website.
21) Can retailers/manufacturers of EEE charge consumers an eco fee when they purchase these products? The WEEE diversion program does not tell the companies that are obligated to remit fees on the designated products how to manage these costs. It is up to the individual companies and their retail customers to make their own decisions. Some companies will internalize the cost, while others may charge consumers an environmental handling fee at the point of purchase.
22) What will happen to the unwanted electronics collected through this program? WEEE collected under the program will be reused, refurbished for reuse, or recycled to recover valuable scrap materials (i.e. – metals and plastics). The exact destination for collected WEEE depends largely on where consumers choose to send their unwanted electronics. WEEE sent to a non-profit, reuse or refurbishment organization likely will result in a portion of electronic products being reused for a second life with a new consumer. WEEE that is too old, damaged, or that doesn’t have any reuse value will go to an end-of-life processor to ensure that any valuable material components are removed for recycling. A small portion of the remaining non-value scrap materials will be disposed properly.
23) How can you ensure environmentally responsible recycling of products? OES has developed a program plan that requires adherence to rigorous environmental, health and safety standards that the industry has used in three other provincial programs. For example, the OES Electronics Recycling Standard outlines specific requirements and operating standards for any OES-approved end-of-life processor receiving WEEE for recycling. Similarly, the OES WEEE Reuse and Refurbishment Standard establishes expectations and requirements for any OES-approved organizations that receive WEEE for reuse or refurbishment under the program. This approach, which has been vetted with recyclers from across Canada, will use third party audits to ensure:
- environmentally conscious and efficient recycling;
- limitations on the export of Ontario’s electronic scrap to third world nations;
- acceptable health and safety controls and management systems are used to protect workers in local recyclers; and
- a reduced dependence on landfill-use for disposal of WEEE.
24) What will OES do to encourage the reuse of electronics that may still have another “life”? Research has shown that the most viable source for reuse of electronics is from the industrial, commercial and institutional sector, which already has a number of effective business models that address the issue of getting reusable electronics products to the appropriate markets, including support for charitable organizations. It is estimated that an average of approximately 10% of combined residential, industrial, commercial and institutional unwanted electronics that are available for collection in Ontario have reuse potential. A strong public outreach and communication program will direct Ontario residents to organizations and locations to which they can donate their used, working electronics.
25) What does this program do for the environment? The WEEE program will encourage the diversion of more materials from disposal through the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle).
The program will add to existing opportunities for Ontarians to take unwanted electronic products to places where they will be reused, refurbished for reuse, recycled for materials, or safely and properly disposed. Diverting these materials through the available 3Rs activities works towards sustainable development and reduces the environmental footprint of WEEE consumers.
It will result in the recycling of components that are used to make WEEE products, reducing the amount of these materials that is disposed of in landfill sites.
The WEEE program adds to the provincial government’s goal of continuous improvement in waste management systems, and will contribute to the Minister of the Environment’s overarching objective.
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