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What people are saying about the program ...

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"First developed and introduced in 2004, Electronics Product Stewardship Canada's (EPSC) Electronics Recycling Standard (ERS) has been the basis for electronics recyclers in Canada seeking to demonstrate responsible, safe and environmentally sound recycling practices.  Since that time, the ERS has been adopted by each of the industry-led provincial end-of-life electronics (EOLE) recycling programs (SWEEP, ESABC, ACES and OES), as the foundation for recycler assessments and approvals, and it has been revised on several occasions to ensure that it continues to meet the operational needs of the programs while staying current to address the processing developments of the recycling industry and the associated risks.

Most recently, the ERS went under an extensive, year long, review and revision process including public consultations, to refine the auditable criteria to better reflect the programs requirements for approved recyclers, but also to incorporate the ERS into a broader Recycler Qualification Program (RQP) which was designed to facilitate a more efficient and effective audit and approval process. In addition to updating the ERS, in April 2011, the Recycler Qualification Office (RQO) was established in cooperation with the industry-led provincial programs and EPSC to manage all recycler assessments and approvals on behalf of the programs.  This national office is intended to provide a streamlined application and approval process for perspective primary recyclers, while undertaking recycler assessments in a timely manner, with detailed, thorough, and objective results.

Sean DeVries, Environmental Recycling Standard (July 2011)

“OES and Halton Region started working together in 2009. From 2007 to 2010, our electronics diversion program increased by 200%. OES has made collecting, transporting and processing easier for us."

Gerrit J. Buitenhuis, Manager of Waste Operations, Halton Region (June 2011)

"The stewardship program offer great diversion opportunities to muncipalities that they otherwise, could not provide on their own.  For example, Durham has expanded its WEEE collection operations at its three Waste Management Facilities.  Recently, it also launched a curbside collection of WEEE in the Municipality of Clarington and the Townships of Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock which will be expanded across the Region over the next year.  We are also in the planning stages to launch a WEEE collection service to Durham's multi-residental sector later this fall.  These program extensions represent significant new diversion opportunities to Durham and its residents.  Durham could not provide the WEEE diversion program it now has without the financial and programming support of the WEEE stewardship program operated through OES."

Peter Veiga, Durham Works Department, Durham Region (July 2011)

“The City of Peterborough has enjoyed an excellent relationship with OES since their electronics recycling program began in 2009.  With this program came increased opportunity for residents to recycle virtually all of their electronic items, including televisions, which was an item not previously taken for recycling.  Thanks to OES's program, we are able to offer this excellent diversion program at zero cost to the taxpayer.  We now send over 325 tonnes of this growing waste stream to be recycled each year, saving precious landfill space in the bargain.  Service is excellent, and we know the materials are going to licenced, domestic recyclers.  OES's electronics recycling program is a true success story, and one of the simplest for the City to administer.”

Virginia Swinson, Waste Reduction Programs Coordinator, City of Peterborough (June 2011)

"Ontario Electronics Stewardship (OES) is funded by the electronics industry, both brand name manufacturers and retailers who remit the Environment fees on each product to OES.  The "user pay" system is transparent and equitable because the consumer and the product manufacturer pay the cost of diversion to landfill, not the taxpayer. Fees paid to OES are used exclusively to pay for collection, transportation, consolidatino and processing of waste electronics, as well as research and consumer education programs to encourage safe and responsbile end of life programs. The province wide e-waste recycling program is building momentun and continuously improving.  OES works with many partners to increase opportunities for Ontarians to recycle old, unwanted electronics and ensure they do not end up in landfill and will instead be reused, recycled or diposed of in an environmentally responsible way. EPSC is proud of the work being done by OES in Ontario to educate the public on the need to recycle electronics, provide a collection, transport and processing infrastructure, and report back on success, with full transparency.  OES has accomplished a lot in a very short period of time since its launch in April 2009."            

Shelagh Kerr, President & CEO, Electronics Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) (June 2011)