Eco fee controversy must not jeopardize hazardous waste program, commissioner
Posted Jul 29, 2010 By EMC News
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Tweet ThisEMC News - Ontario's program for managing hazardous waste is an important step in the right direction and should not be scrapped, says Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller in his Special Report, released recently. The report notes, however, that the program is not perfect, and offers recommendations for its improvement.
Miller fears that recent controversy and confusion over the implementation of the second phase of the hazardous waste management program, particularly the unfortunate decision by some retailers to invent the concept of "eco fees", could jeopardize the future of this necessary program. The report aims to provide clarity about the program and refocus the discussion back on the core issue: how to manage - and finance the management of - hazardous wastes.
Despite the Commissioner's support for the program, his report identifies some necessary areas for improvement and provides two key recommendations.
"A critical problem with the program is there's no incentive for manufacturers to make their products greener since they are all charged the same 'steward fee' regardless of how environmentally friendly their products are," Miller continued. "Greener products should have lower fees."
"Another problem with Ontario's program is that manufacturers only pay for the management of wastes collected through the program, and not for wastes going to landfill. Because Stewardship Ontario aims to collect only 42 per cent of the available hazardous waste in the program's first year, taxpayers will still be footing the bill for managing more than half of Ontario's hazardous waste."
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