Environment and Conservation
November 2, 2012

The following is being distributed at the request of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board:

New Provincial Electronics Recycling Program to be Established

Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will soon be able to recycle their end-of-life electronics, often referred to as e-waste, in an environmentally-sound manner. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has implemented amendments to the Waste Management Regulations under the Environmental Protection Act in order to introduce an industry-led electronics recycling program.

“Electronics contain dangerous metals and contaminants such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and other potentially hazardous materials that can create environmental hazards if not recycled or disposed of in a responsible manner,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation and Minister Responsible for the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board. “Proper management of e-waste through an industry-led electronics recycling program is an important step forward for waste management in Newfoundland and Labrador, and will bring the province another step closer to achieving the 50 per cent waste reduction goal of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy.”

The new e-waste program will take an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach, meaning that electronics manufacturers will be responsible for their products from the point of production through to post-consumer recycling. Electronics manufacturers have 120 days to submit a detailed stewardship plan to the MMSB outlining their proposed recycling program for Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have been looking forward to the introduction of an e-waste recycling program and we are happy to introduce these changes to the regulations,” said Leigh Puddester, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the MMSB. “We have been working closely with electronics manufacturers to see them take a leadership role in handling the end-of-life treatment of their products. By having producers take this responsibility, they will increasingly think about ways to redesign their products to be more environmentally friendly and easier to recycle.”

In Newfoundland and Labrador, it is estimated that households generate 1,551 tons of e-waste and the institutional, commercial and industrial sector generates 1,055 tons, annually. E-waste includes items such as computers, televisions, cell phones and printers that are no longer usable.

Similar EPR e-waste recycling programs are already in place in other jurisdictions in Canada. The electronics recycling program will be the second EPR program for Newfoundland and Labrador – the paint recycling program launched in May of this year was the first of its kind.

More information regarding the EPR approach can be found in the backgrounder below. Information about changes to the Waste Management Regulations can be found at www.assembly.nl.ca or www.mmsb.nl.ca.

The MMSB is a Crown agency that reports to the Minister of Environment and Conservation. The MMSB supports modern waste management practices in the province, with a particular focus on waste diversion, recycling and public education, in order to ensure a clean and healthy environment throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

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BACKGROUNDER
Extended Producer Responsibility Approach for E-Waste Recycling

Under the amended Waste Management Regulations under the Environmental Protection Act, electronic manufacturers are required to:

• Register with the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB);
• Collect and recycle electronic products when they reach their end of useful life;
• Provide adequate geographic coverage to all consumers within Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Maximize local economic benefits;
• Provide proof that electronics are being recycled in a socially-responsible manner;
• Provide proof on achieving acceptable recovery rates; and,
• Provide regular updates on how their products are being designed to be more environmentally sustainable.

The MMSB is responsible for reviewing and approving the industry stewardship plan and for ensuring compliance with the agreed-upon timelines, requirements and targets set-out in the plan. The amendments to the Waste Management Regulations under the Environmental Protection Act sets high standards for the collection and recycling of electronics from an environmental, economic, social, and health and safety perspective.

2012 11 02                      10:40 a.m.