Update on Waste-Free Ontario Act and Strategy

Transcription

1 Update on Waste-Free Ontario Act and Strategy Peter Veiga Supervisor, Waste Management Operations Regional Municipality of Durham February 23, 2017

2 Background Since inception, the Blue Box program was premised on producers paying their fair share early 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 cost sharing arrangement 1999 Interim Waste Diversion Organization (WDO) led to the creation of the Waste Diversion Act (WDA) in 2002 WDA designated materials for recycling (Blue Box, Tires, MHSW, WEEE) and required producers to form Industry Funding Organizations (IFOs) to create recycling programs and to collect funds to pay for them (50% - 100%) IFOs became monopolies in their industries and just another bill to pay for producers - created very little incentive to recycle or design for the environment Bill 91, Waste Reduction Act, 2013 tried to kick-start recycling by introducing INDIVIDUAL responsibility but never became an Act 2

3 Waste-Free Ontario Act, 2016 Waste-Free Ontario Act includes two pieces of enabling legislation: Waste Diversion Transition Act (WDTA) Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act (RRCEA) The Waste Diversion Transition Act replaces the Waste Diversion Act and sets the transition rules from the old system to new The Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act moves Ontario to full producer responsibility for designated items moves waste management onus from municipal responsibility (taxes) to INDIVIDUAL producers (stewards) Passed 3 rd Reading June 9, 2016 and became effective November 30, 2016 An enabling act only rules will be in yet to be written regulations 3

4 Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act Establishes Provincial Interests, 16 items including Protecting natural environment and human health Minimize greenhouse gas emissions from resource recovery activities and waste reduction activities Minimize the generation of waste, including from products and packaging Increase the reuse and recycling of waste across all sectors of the economy Develops a Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy Include goals and actions to be taken to support the goals Performance measures to assess progress toward achieving goals Progress reports every 5 years Reviewed and revised every 10 years Creates the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority Waste Diversion Ontario is transformed into Authority A new oversight, compliance and enforcement organization Oversees transition from old IFO programs to new 4

5 2017 Actions for Implementation Finalize and publish the Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy Expected spring 2017 Fully transition Waste Diversion Ontario to Authority Establish Registry for data management Establish Board of Directors, develop operating structure Transition one existing diversion program to new regulatory framework decision on which one not yet made Decision on which one not yet made Consult on Food and Organic Waste Action Plan First Provincial policy statement expected to be on organics diversion 5

6 Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario The strategy document provides a road map for resource recovery and waste reduction, including: setting a vision and goals; articulating key government actions; and identifying performance measures to measure progress. Vision: To achieve a circular economy. Goals: 1) zero waste Ontario, and 2) zero greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector. 6

7 Circular Economy - Key Objectives and Actions 7

8 Action - Transition WDO to the Authority Strategy Objective: Enhance Provincial Direction and Oversight ACTION 1: Empower Authority The RRCEA overhauled Waste Diversion Ontario to become the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (Authority), a non-crown and not for profit organization. Provides oversight, develop and operate a data clearinghouse, and undertake compliance and enforcement related to the new producer responsibility regime. ACTION 2: Issue Policy Statement Set clear government direction on important matters. Issue policy statements that provide further direction on implementing the provincial interest. Persons and entities must be consistent with applicable policy statements when engaging in activities related to resource recovery and waste reduction. The first policy statement will focus on food and organic waste. ACTION 3: Establish Registry A data clearinghouse (i.e. a registry) to build data capacity and provide for evidence-based decisions. Collect data from producers and other parties that conduct activities related to waste reduction and resource recovery (e.g., generators, service providers, and municipalities). Enhance data collection, reporting and performance measurement from waste generators and service providers (e.g. haulers, transfer stations, waste processing facilities, landfills). 8

9 Transition Existing Programs to New Framework Strategy Objective: Enable Efficient and Effective Recovery Systems ACTION 4: Transition programs The province will lead overall transition process. Transition includes two concurrent steps: Wind-up of existing waste diversion programs and IFOs under the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016 (WDTA). Achieved through: Minister issues wind-up direction to an IFO IFO develops and the Authority assesses and approves the wind-up plan in consistent with the Minister s direction IFO implements wind-up plan and, if applicable, winds itself up Making regulations under the RRCEA. Achieved through: Producer responsibility regulation(s) under RRCEA that designate materials and producers, and set producer responsibilities Complementary regulation(s) to support implementation of the RRCEA regulations Regulations under EPA to ban disposal of some materials under existing programs (e.g., some materials under WEEE, MHSW) Regulations under new legislation to set administrative penalties 9

10 Consult on Food and Organic Waste Action Plan Strategy Objective: Increase Waste Reduction and Resource Productivity ACTION 10: Food and Organic Waste Framework The ministry has convened a Stakeholder Working Group to help develop a Food and Organic Waste Framework. The framework will consist of two components. 1. Ministry Policy Statement on food and organic waste. 2. Food and Organic Waste Action Plan with key actions and commitments including both regulatory and non-regulatory measures. The Framework will include government directions and actions to: Reduce the amount of food that becomes waste Remove food and appropriate organic materials from the disposal stream Reduce GHG emissions from food and organic waste Support and stimulate end markets to recover the value from food and organics Increase accountability of responsible parties Improve data on food and organic materials 10

11 Where are we now? Authority s Board of Directors has been set Recruiting for Executive Director and Registrar Province is determining which IFO program to transition first Consultations on organics strategy has begun 11

12 Beyond 2017 Implement Food and Organic Waste Action Plan Continue to transition existing diversion programs to the new regulatory framework Initiate blue box transition Continue with electronics, tires, MHSW transition Consider additional materials to designate for full extended producer responsibility Consult on disposal bans for items like food waste, electronics, mattresses Amend diversion regulations for IC&I sector and begin implementation 12

13 Thank you Peter Veiga Regional Municipality of Durham