In February 2018, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks directed Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) to wind up the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Program on December 31, 2020. The WEEE Program was the second waste diversion program to be wound up under the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016.
The WEEE Program was operated by OES, which was responsible for electronics recycling in Ontario on behalf of the electronics industry and charged an environmental handling fee to electronic stewards (i.e. producers) to operate the program.
Information technology, telecommunications, audio-visual (ITT/AV) and lighting equipment were the third and fourth materials designated under Ontario’s individual producer responsibility (IPR) requirements. On January 1, 2021, ITT/AV producers became individually accountable and financially responsible for collecting and reusing, refurbishing or recycling their products when consumers discard them. ITT/AV producers, producer responsibility organizations (PROs), and service providers (collection site operators, haulers, refurbishers and processors) are now regulated by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority. Learn more about IPR.
Wind up process
Approval of OES’s Wind Up Plan
As directed by the Minister, OES submitted its plan to wind up the WEEE program and OES itself to RPRA in December 2018.
Between March and April 2019, RPRA consulted on the plan with municipalities, stewards and other affected stakeholders. Visit the consultation page to learn more about the consultation process.
On April 2, 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks requested that RPRA conduct additional consultation on OES’s Wind Up Plan. The additional consultation sought feedback on options to ensure that OES’s surplus funds be used for the benefit of Ontario consumers; for example, through a consumer rebate program. Read the Minister’s Direction.
RPRA approved OES’s Wind Up Plan in August 2019, with conditions. Learn more:
Resignation of OES Board of Directors and Appointment of Liquidator
The Board of Directors of OES resigned as Directors effective April 1, 2021, and appointed Deloitte Restructuring Inc., as liquidator. The appointment was made on February 24, 2021, and is effective as of April 1, 2021.
The appointment of a liquidator is part of the process established to wind up a waste diversion program and the industry funding organization responsible for operating it under the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016, the Minister’s directions and RPRA’s Wind Up Guide.
As liquidator, Deloitte will act as OES’ agent and be responsible for all decision-making and implementing the remaining provisions of the approved OES Wind Up Plan.
Materials relating to the wind up proceedings will be posted on Deloitte’s website as they become available.
Consultation on the transfer of remaining OES residual funds to RPRA
From August 10 to September 2, 2022, RPRA consulted on a proposal to transfer an interim amount of OES residual funds to RPRA to offset 2023 RRCEA Program Fees for ITT/AV producers. RPRA sought feedback on how the remaining residual funds could be applied to reduce future fees for ITT/AV producers once OES completes its liquidation.
Based on the feedback received, RPRA will take the following steps:
- RPRA will defer the proposed interim transfer of OES residual funds to RPRA.
- Once the OES Liquidator has resolved all outstanding financial matters and the full amount of remaining residual funds is known, the full amount of OES residual funds will be transferred to RPRA to reduce RRCEA Program Fees for ITT/AV producers to $0.
- Remaining funds will be applied in the same manner to future payment cycles until the residual funds are exhausted.
The amount of OES residual funds is contingent on the resolution of a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) matter. If the OES Liquidator’s claim is successful, the refund amount awarded by CRA will be added to the OES reserve fund. Depending on the outcome of the CRA case, the final amount of the residual funds could range from approximately $3M (the current reserve fund amount), minus ongoing operating expenses, to $17M, if OES receives the maximum amount claimed from CRA.
Learn more about the consultation:
Joint Deloitte-RPRA Webinar on April 10
On April 10, 2024, RPRA and the OES court-appointed liquidator Deloitte Restructuring Inc. hosted an online information session to provide an update on OES’ financial position and the status of the organization’s CRA matters. RPRA and Deloitte also provided an update on the final steps to be taken to wind up OES, including the plan to disburse program residual funds.
Minister’s direction on single-use batteries
On December 11, 2018, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks amended the timelines associated with the wind up of the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program. As per the Minister’s direction, the program for single-use batteries operated by Stewardship Ontario was wound up on June 30, 2020. This timeline change allowed for a coordinated policy approach with the wind up of the WEEE Program. Read the letter or visit our Batteries program page for more information.