Wind up of MHSW program in Ontario
by Ellen Thornton at 14:22 in Content, Emerging, Environmental
On 12 April 2018, the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change issued direction to Stewardship Ontario to wind up the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program by December 31st, 2020. Materials collected under the MHSW program will be managed according to an individual producer responsibility framework under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. The materials obligated under MHSW - paint, antifreeze, batteries, fertilizers and other hazardous or special waste - will still be managed but under a new program. Stewardship Ontario must develop a plan to wind up the waste diversion program for MHSW and submit it to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (the Authority) for approval no later than June 30, 2019. The waste diversion program for MHSW will cease operation on December 31, 2020.
It is expected that Stewardship Ontario will engage with and work cooperatively with the Authority in implementing any policy direction issued to the Authority pursuant to Section 29 of the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA). In particular, Stewardship Ontario will cooperate fully with the Authority on the activities set out in the Minister's policy direction to the Authority, including providing the Authority with quarterly reports within four weeks of the end of each remaining quarter in 2018-2020 regarding Stewardship Ontario's revenues and expenditures related to the waste diversion program for MHSW.
The IPSs must achieve similar or improved results as compared to the waste diversion program for MHSW, according to the following principles: there shall be no disruption in the operation of the ISPs for MHSW, including the collection, transportation, processing, or recycled product manufacturing, while the MHSW program is operating; Ontarian's access to and experience with the ISPs shall not be negatively impacted during wind up of the waste diversion program for MHSW; current program targets or performance of the ISPs, whatever is higher, must be maintained or exceeded until the MHSW program ceases operation. The Authority is also expected to consult with representatives of municipalities, stewards, persons operating approved ISPs and other affected persons, when assessing Stewardship Ontario's proposed wind up plan.
If you have any questions about the MHSW wind up, please contact us here.
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