May 2012 – Stewardship Gazette – Manitoba Electronics Stewardship Starts August 1, 2012

Manitoba Electronics Stewardship – Starts August 1, 2012
Manitoba’s new end-of-life electronic stewardship program will begin on August 1, 2012. In order to comply with the province’s Electrical and Electronic Equipment Stewardship Regulation, stewards in Manitoba must register with Electronic Products Recycling Association Manitoba (EPRA Manitoba).
The Electronic Products Recycling Association (www.EPRAssociation.ca) is an industry-led, non-profit association chartered with improving the efficiency of regulated e-waste reclamation and recycling processes. EPRA was established by members of the Electronics Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) www.epsc.ca and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) www.retailcouncil.org in 2011. EPRA will be the harmonizing body for the growing number of regulated electronics stewardship programs in Canada.
Led by Program Manager Dennis Neufeld, (dennis@eprassociation.ca) EPRA Manitoba will uphold the industry’s high standards for the recycling of end-of-life electronics and providing secure, convenient recycling options across the province.
Manitoba is in the unique position of starting off its program being able to accept both Phase 1 products (TVs, computers & printers) and Phase 2 products (home, personal and vehicle audio-video & some residential telecommunications) regulated products. As a result, from day one the program will accept the same broad list of products as its sister programs across Canada, with the addition of microwaves which have been accepted under the existing Green Manitoba program.
Following the successful model of Canada’s existing electronics stewardship programs, EPRA Manitoba will utilize an Environmental Handling Fee (EHF) on the purchase of new, regulated electronic equipment. The EHF reflects the actual cost to collect, transport and responsibly recycle the regulated products. The fee is not a tax, nor a refundable deposit and will provide the program with stable and sustainable funding. EPRA Manitoba’s EHF rates have been harmonized with those being utilized by the neighbouring Saskatchewan Waste Electronic Equipment Program (SWEEP). These EHFs range from $0.40 for personal/portable AV products to $23.25 for display devices 30” or greater. EHFs on regulated products will apply as of the regulation effective date of August 1, 2012. The first remittance of fees to the program from August are due as of September 30, 2012.
Phase One of the program will focus on raising awareness of the program, EHFs and developing a collection network across the province of Manitoba that adheres to high standards of safety, data security and consumer experience. All collectors who meet these standards will be found on the EPRA Manitoba website (www.recycleMYelectronics.ca). EPRA Manitoba will begin the program with the existing GMES sites that meet the standards and intends to grow the collection network over time.
Once products are collected by an EPRA Manitoba approved collector, they will be sent to an approved processor. Any recyclers wishing to be an EPRA Manitoba approved processor must apply to, and be audited/approved by the Recycler Qualification Program (http://www.rqp.ca). This program was pioneered by EPSC and the existing industry-led, end-of-life electronics stewardship programs across Canada to ensure that environmentally sound electronics reuse and recycling standards are established, met, maintained and continually improved upon. More information on the program is available at the EPRA Manitoba website recyclemyelectronics.ca