Saturday, April 04, 2009

this is not a tax

It's government approved... government designed... government regulated but it is not a tax.
Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) is a not-for-profit organization formed by leading retail, information technology and consumer electronic companies to implement the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Program Plan under the Waste Diversion Act. The plan requires brand owners, first importers, franchisors, and assemblers to pay fees for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) supplied to Ontario. Collected fees will be used by OES to operate the WEEE program

The program will include multiple phases. The Phase 1 Plan addresses desktop and portable computers, computer peripherals, monitors, printers, fax machines and televisions. A plan for second phase materials, such as phones, cameras and audiovisual equipment, will follow 12 months after approval of the first phase.

An article at CTV says:
Starting Wednesday, companies that sell electronic products will pay a fee to Ontario Electronic Stewardship, an industry-run organization that will take on the work of reusing and recycling old electronics, as well as pursuing research and development and launching public education programs....

Environment Minister John Gerretsen is going out of his way to say:"The bottom line is this: it's not a tax," he said. "Not one penny is coming into the government coffers."
  • I am a firm believer in recycling.
  • Industry needs to do a better job of recyling electronics and a better job of reusing materials.
  • [On a separate, but related issue, why can't there be more compatibility of batteries for electronics / computers; and a longer life for rechargeable batteries.]
  • But will this really make a difference. Will computer manufacturers really use the funds collected to recycle. [I am rather sceptical on this... think about Ontario's infamous tire recycling fee/tax - simply a money grab with little if any results to show for the millions collected]
  • Will I still have to pay at the landfill? You can bet I will - double billing - I get ripped off.
  • While everyone gets billed, northern municipalities like Kenora, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Timmins currently have no local depots where electronic waste can be taken. Even southern cities like Barrie, Niagara Falls and Waterloo are left out of the program.

1 comment:

michael lewis said...

Alberta already has numerous fees collected on new items. Though they do not go to industry, they are used to off-set the cost of waste disposal and recycling.

This includes everything from drink containers (including milk), to tires and paint, and even electronics.

In exchange for this, these items are not disposed of into the landfill system, and most jurisdictions have e-waste and non-waste recycling centres. However, there is still no curb side pick-up (except in Edmonton, the harbinger of future thinking on waste management).