The management of batteries or any other hazardous product has a direct impact on municipal governments and waste and recycling companies.
The provincial government is doing the right thing by making producers responsible for the management of products and packaging they generate at the end-of-life. Producers have a much greater ability to create economies of scale to collect and manage these materials and to generate markets for the associated commodities.A properly resourced oversight body. In the last year a lack of resources led to a backlog of over 2,000 potential cases of non-compliance.
High recycling targets. Unfortunately, many of the initial recycling targets proposed in the regulations, were substantially reduced. In the case of many hazardous products, no recycling targets were included. High recycling targets with continuous improvement are fundamental to ensure materials are properly managed at the end of life and producers continually seek ways to improve outcomes.
These issues are not only confined to battery recycling — similar issues are happening with all of Ontario’s other recycling policies, including Ontario’s iconic blue box. With almost seven months away from the first municipal blue box programs moving to full producer responsibility, higher stakes will be faced without adequate compliance and enforcement tools.
The more difficult they make it for us to dispose of our trash the more likely it is that our trash will “accidentally” get dumped inappropriately.