Any site that can meet and comply with all environmental performance requirements and applicable municipal, provincial, and federal regulations and requirements can become an OES partner through our approval process.
System Messages
Collector FAQs
1Who is eligible to become a collector/collection site?
2What are the benefits of participating in the Program?
Participation ensures that the costs of collecting, transporting and processing of designated
3What are the program’s collection and packaging requirements?
OES program collectors are required to segregate 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 and other materials
Group 1 and 2 materials are stacked, palletized, shrink -wrapped and prepared for transport. Group 3 materials are bulk bagged or placed in a Gaylord box.
4Can municipalities use other packaging for all WEEE collected?
In some cases, OES permits deviation from OES sorting and packaging requirements. In other cases, municipalities may use Gaylord boxes or roll off bins. For more information, please contact your regional operations representative through services@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca
5Is there a collection incentive to become an OES-approved collector/collection site?
Yes. OES-approved collection sites receive a weight-based financial incentive for the designated materials that they receive, sort and prepare for transport by an OES-approved service provider.
6Do all collectors receive the collection incentive?
Only collection sites that are accessible to the public - and collect all or a subset of designated materials - are eligible for the incentive. Collectors that are not eligible to receive the incentive include:
- Stewards who take back consumer returns and end-of-lease material for a subset of Phase 1 WEEE,
- collections sites that accept a subset of Phase 1 WEEE that excludes some brands, and,
- retailers and municipalities who host an OES Round-Up event.
7Are municipalities required to participate in the program?
No. While we encourage municipalities to take part, municipal participation is voluntary.
8How do waste management and recycling companies participate in the program?
Companies become OES-approved collectors by meeting the program's compliance, sorting and packaging requirements.
9Can second hand material collection organizations become OES approved?
Yes. Second hand organizations can receive OES approval, and become eligible for a collection incentive for their services.
10Are retailers, not-for-profit organizations and/or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Ontario required to take back WEEE?
No. Participation in this program is voluntary.
11How does a retailer put on a special collection event?
Retailers that co-ordinate and provide staffing for special events receive handing equipment and transportation and processing services from OES. Special events can range in frequency from one to several events per season based on OES accessibility objectives.
Recycler or Processor FAQs
1How do I become an OES-Approved Primary Processor?
If you would like to be a partner with OES and wish to become an OES-Approved Primary Processor ("Processor") please contact the Recycling Qualification Office (RQO) at: info@rqp.ca. This office has a mandate to oversee the ERS audit and application process in a harmonious way among all provincial WEEE programs including OES, ACES, ESABC, SWEEP and EPSC. Once you have completed the RQO audit, you will need to receive OES program approval.
Once you apply through RQO and complete the audit process you will need to advise OES of the successful completion of the RQP audit. Your company will be required to complete necessary documentation provided by OES, and must enter into a contract with OES.
2How do I become an approved downstream processor?
OES does not grant approval to downstream processors. This title is reserved for approved Primary Processors only. Downstream processors are, however, required to be audited against the RQP as part of the Primary Processor application.
3How do approved primary processors receive materials under the program?
A primary processor can receive e-waste in three ways:
- Processor Incentive Program: review the Processor Incentive (PI) Guidebook for more information on this option.
- Request for Proposal (RFP) Option: Processors are eligible to receive OES-collected WEEE by submitting a bid through an OES issued Request for Proposal (RFP). From time to time the RFP option will be available to approved Processors.
- IC&I Steward Self-Managed WEEE: Stewards who self-manage (recycle) their e-waste can partner with OES-approved Primary Processors. Under this option, an incentive will not be available to the primary processor. To learn more about the Steward Self-Manage option, please email: oesssm@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca.
4How do I know if a company is an OES-approved primary processor?
Please review the list of OES-Approved Primary Processors.
5How does OES ensure that e-waste is recycled in the most environmentally sound manner?
All OES-Approved Primary Processors, and their downstream processors, are audited against the Recycling Qualification Program for End-of-Life Electronics developed by Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) in consultation with OES, ACES, ESABC, and SWEEP programs and various other stakeholders.
The RQP defines the minimum requirements for EOLE Processors and Recyclers to be considered for use under the provincial electronics recycling Stewardship Programs.
The intent of the RQP is to ensure that EOLE products are managed in an environmentally sound manner that safeguards worker health and safety, and the environment from the point of primary processing to the point of final disposition. The RQP applies to both Processors and Recyclers, referred to jointly as ‘Recyclers’, and it does not replace or absolve the Recycler from any applicable Federal, Provincial/State/Territorial or other local regulatory requirements.
Please refer to Appendix 10 of the WEEE Program Plan for a detailed list of compliance requirements.
6Do other provincial e-waste programs use the same standard to audit and approve their primary processors?
Yes. WEEE programs in other provinces (e.g., Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Nova Scotia) also subscribe to RQP and the primary processors are audited by the joint Recycler Qualification Office who administers the RQP.
Reuser or Refurbisher FAQs
1Why do reuse/refurbish organizations have to meet a standard to be approved?
Our WEEE Reuse and Refurbishment Standard ensures that all activities meet data security requirements, and are conducted in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
2Are reuse/refurbishment organizations negatively impacted by this program?
No. The program allows reuse organizations to operate as they do currently, and provides the additional benefits of free promotion, advertising, increased collection volumes, and relief from transportation and end-of-life processing costs.
3Do reusers/refurbishers receive an incentive for their activities?
Yes. A reuser/refurbisher can collect an incentive from OES, for any designated material that cannot be reused or refurbished, providing the WEEE arrives at the consolidation centre prepared for subsequent transport to an OES-approved primary processor.
Once OES-approved, a reuser/refurbisher can also reuse or refurbish any of the designated materials it collects.
4Can reuser/refurbishment organizations apply to become multi-service providers?
Yes. This is done as part of the OES online registration.
5Do I need to apply to become an OES collector if I am already applying to become an OES-approved reuser/refurbisher?
Yes. Your site must first meet the collection site requirements before you can be considered as a reuse/refurbishment site.
6How do IC&I generators participate, and send equipment for reuse?
OES will send you a list of approved reuse/refurbishment organizations. You will be responsible for transportation costs to the location(s).
Transporter or Consolidator FAQs
1How do I become an OES approved consolidator/transporter?
Interested consolidators and or transporters are contracted via an equitable and competitive tendering process open to all qualified transport service providers.
2Who covers WEEE transport costs?
OES funds the transportation of collected WEEE from various collection points. We also cover transportation costs from collection zones to consolidation centres, and from consolidation centres to processors.
