Industry ready to implement Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Diversion program

Objective to divert 23,000 tonnes in first year.
TORONTO, Feb. 21 /CNW/ – Now that the Ontario Minister of the Environment
has approved the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program Plan, the
companies that make and market special products such as paint, oil filters,
batteries, fertilizer and antifreeze are ready to get the ball rolling to
launch the program on July 1, 2008, said Jim Quick, chair of Stewardship
Ontario’s MHSW program planning committee.
“This is an ambitious plan and we know we have our work cut out for us
but we’re ready for the challenge. In the next six months we will be working
closely with municipalities to increase the number of collection events and
depots so we can achieve our first year objective of recovering 23,000 tonnes
of special waste materials,” Quick said.
The program was developed and will be implemented by Stewardship Ontario
on behalf of Waste Diversion Ontario.
“The first thing Ontarians should know is that these are products that we
all have had around our homes for decades and use everyday. Some of them have
special uses and require special care when we are finished with them and for
that reason, industry worked with Stewardship Ontario to develop this plan. It
sets out how we will put systems in place to collect more of these waste
materials for reuse, recycling and, if necessary, proper disposal,” Quick
said.
Once implementation of the program picks up steam, Ontarians will have
more opportunities to manage special waste products and packaging in a
responsible manner. The plan calls for 255 new collection event days in
Ontario, on top of the existing 169 days that municipalities already organize.
“Many municipalities have been operating MHSW days and depots for years
but still people have been asking for more of them so they can reduce the
amount of these materials that they set out as garbage. This plan delivers on
that front and more,” Quick said.
Under the MHSW program, industry will pay for about 80% of the program
cost while municipalities will cover the balance. The cost to industry in year
one is expected to be $28 million.
“The industries affected by the MHSW program are taking stewardship
responsibility for their products and packaging and through our 3Rs diversion
activities, we’ll be reducing the environmental footprint of these products.
That’s something we can all feel good about,” said Joyce Barretto, CEO of
Stewardship Ontario.
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The MHSW program calls for the plan to rollout over five years.
MHSW Backgrounder:
http://www.stewardshipontario.ca/mhsw/pdf/media/MHSW_industry_backgrounder.pdf
MHSW Diversion Program Plan:
http://www.stewardshipontario.ca/mhsw/pdf/plan/MHSW_plan_nov_30.pdf
Stewardship Ontario Website: www.stewardshipontario.ca
For further information: For media Inquiries: Barbara McConnell,
Stewardship Ontario Communications, Ph. (647) 777-3362, Cel: (416) 452-2373