Product Stewardship (EPR)

In British Columbia, Industry-led Product Stewardship Programs are a government strategy to place the responsibility for end of life product management on the producerand consumers of a product, this known as Extended Producter Responsibility or EPR. By regulating stewardship programs (Recycling Regulation) the provincial government has moved away from government-managed and taxpayer-financed waste management programs.

Product Stewardship Catagories

Beverage Containers: In British Columbia, the Recycling Regulation requires beverage producers to be responsible for used beverage containers.  Most ready-to-drink beverages sold in the province are captured under Recycling Regulation's beverage container product category and thus under B.C.'s deposit-refund system.  Beverage Containers are managed by two stewardship agencies. Encorp Pacific ( Canada) is the stewardship agency for most alcohol and non-alcohol beverage containers: www.encorp.ca  Beer cans, standard brown beer bottles and some clear refillable containers are managed by the Brewers Distributor Ltd. For a list of containers managed by this agency, visit www.beerbottlerefund.com. The Recycling Regulation's definition of beverage exempts milk and milk substitutes, however, the BC Dairy Council has a voluntary milk container recycling program. This program is funded by the BC Dairy Council so that consumers can return free of charge milk, cream and milk substitute beverage containers. For more information on where to return these containers and what containers are accepted, visit www.encorp.ca

Electronics and Electrical Equipment : There are currently two industry associations with approved Product Stewardship Plans under Part II of the Recycling Regulation: Electronics Stewardship Association of BC (ESABC) and Western Canada Computer Industry Association (WCCIA). The electronics product category in the Recycling Regulation has been expanded from desktop computers and computer periphery, laptop computers, printers, monitors and televisions to capture other electronic and electrical products. ESABC has contracted with Encorp Pacific to deliver the stewardship program under their Return-It^TM brand. For information on where in your area to take your old computer or TV please call the RCBC Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321, or visit ESABC's website.

LightRecycle Program-Starting July 1, 2010: The Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Association of Canada (EEMAC) has developed a recycling program for residential-use fluorescent lamps. The two types of fluorescent lamps included in the program are compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and fluorescent tubes. Both types can be dropped off for free at a number of depots across BC provided that they are fully intact and no longer than 8ft in length.The program will expand to include commercial or industrial use fluorescent lights and tubes in 2012. The program is managed by Product Care Association and funded through the collection of eco fees charged on the sale of fluorescent lamps. The eco fees vary by type and size of the fluorescent lamp and range from $0.20 to $0.40. For more information on the program or to locate the nearest drop‐off location, call the RCBC Recycling Hotline or visit www.productcare.org/lights.

Medications/ Pharmaceuticals: Unused pharmaceuticals pose a significant health, safety and environmental hazard when improperly stored or disposed to the environment.  The Post Consumer Pharmaceutical Stewardship Association (PCPSA) is the appointed agency for the pharmaceutical product category.  The pharmaceutical industry formed and appointed this agency to help fulfill the requirements of the Recycling Regulation.

Used Lubricating Oil, Filters and Containers: The British Columbia Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA), is a not-for-profit association that administers a used oil, filter and container stewardship program. The program began on July 22, 2003. Facilities who have voluntarily agreed to be a part of the program are now the only locations that accept drop offs of used oil from the public. Visit the BC Used Oil Managment Association (BCUOMA) website for more information: http://www.usedoilrecycling.com/en/bc

Lead Acid Batteries:  As of June, 1991 the ministry has managed the B.C. Lead-Acid Battery Collection Program. Originally the only initiative of its type in Canada, striving to meet a recovery rate of at least 98% of all end-of-life batteries generated annually in B.C. The program helps to ensure that all used batteries are economically transported to a processor, and it is estimated that virtually 100% are recovered given the right market conditions.

Tires: Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) is a not-for-profit society formed to manage BC's tire recycling program. TSBC is comprised of the Rubber Association of Canada, the Retail Council of Canada and Western Canada Tire Dealers Association. The program collects an Advance Disposal Fee, commonly referred to as an eco fee, on the sale of every new tire. The fees are used to pay for transporting and recycling BC generated scrap tires ensuring that the tires are disposed of in environmentally responsible ways instead of ending up in our landfills. For more information visit http://www.tirestewardshipbc.ca/

Paint: The Product Care Association and  the Tree-Marking- Paing Stewardship Association are non-profit associations formed in response to provincial regulations requiring brand owners of paint to establish a collection program for leftover paint products and waste. Paint products accepted at Product Care Paint Only Depots include household paint such as latex and alkyd paint, coatings, sealers, glazes, primers, shellacs, undercoats, varnishes, paint aerosols and many other paint products. For a detailed list please visit: http://www.productcare.org/

The Tree-Marking Paint Association (TSA) program is focused on the management of commercial aerosol products sold to the forestry and survey industrial sectors. It ensures a safe and convenient method to manage unwanted aerosol paints. http://www.treepaint.ca/

Solvents and Flammable Liquids, Gasoline and Pesticides:  Many different products are managed under this stewardship program. Flammable liquids include acetone, BBQ lighter fluid, kerosene, paint thinner, as well as flammable aerosols to name a few. To find a complete list materials managed under Product Care Association's stewardship program visit: http://www.productcare.org/BCaccept.html

For more inforamtion about Product Stewardship Programs in BC contact:

The Recycling Council of British Columbia toll free at 1-800-667-4321 OR Visit their website at www.rcbc.bc.ca