Program wind-up extended for MHSW and WEEE
On July 2, 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued new directions to Ontario Electronic Stewardship for the wind up of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Program and to Stewardship Ontario for the wind up of the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program.
WEEE
In his direction letter, the Minister amended the timeline to wind up the waste diversion program for WEEE. The program will now cease operation on December 31, 2020 instead of June 30, 2020.
The direction comes as a result of a report submitted by the Authority to the Minister in April 2019 that summarized public consultations held on options for the use of surplus funds not needed by Ontario Electronic Stewardship for program operations or wind up expenses. The report identified stakeholder preference for the option to extend the operation of the WEEE program for an additional six months to draw down OES’ surplus funds.
MHSW
The Minister’s direction letter to Stewardship Ontario extends the operation of the MHSW program for all designated materials except single-use batteries to June 30, 2021 instead of December 31, 2020.
The program to manage single-use batteries will cease operation on June 30, 2020, as previously directed by the Minister.
The Minister further directed Stewardship Ontario to revise its Wind Up Plan to include a proposal to return surplus funds to Ontario consumers of municipal hazardous or special waste materials and to submit the revised plan to the Authority by September 30, 2019.
Stewardship Ontario will be consulting with stakeholders on options for the use of surplus funds later this summer. Details will be posted on Stewardship Ontario’s website as they become available.