Canada-Wide Action Plan for Extended Producer ... - CCME

Appendix I – Mercury Containing Products
Lamps
Environment Canada is leading a multi-stakeholder workgroup developing recommendations on
a national EPR framework for all end-of-life mercury-containing lamps. This working group
brings together specialists from the federal and provincial governments, manufacturers,
recyclers, retailers, and environmental organizations.
Other Mercury-containing Products
• switches that contain mercury
• thermostats,
• thermometers
• barometers or
• other measuring and control devices that contain mercury
It is anticipated that Environment Canada will publish proposed regulations under The Canadian
Environmental Protection Act, 1999 by winter 2009/10 to prohibit most mercury-containing
products by 2012. However there is a legacy of mercury in products already in service in
Canada of approximately 250 tonnes.
Automotive Mercury Switches
A federal instrument is in place to manage mercury from switches found in automobiles.
Environment Canada published a Pollution Prevention Planning Notice in Respect of Mercury
Releases from Mercury Switches in End-of-life Vehicles Processed by Steel Mills made pursuant
to section 56 of Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) was published in
Canada Gazette, Part I on December 29, 2007.
As part of their pollution prevention plans, both vehicle manufacturers and steel mills must
consider participating in a national mercury switch management program that requires the
collection and recycling of mercury switches. Manufacturers are asked to participate in the
program for 15 years after the last model year in which mercury switches were installed in their
vehicles, and steel mills are asked to participate until December 31, 2017.
The ultimate goal of the Notice is to achieve an annual capture rate of 90% in the first 4 years of
the program. Vehicle manufacturers must also consider providing vehicle recyclers with
information on how to remove, collect and manage mercury switches. As for steel mills that use
recycled vehicles, they must prepare a plan on how they will make an effort to buy only scrap
metal from which the mercury has been removed.
Approved in principle by CCME Council of Ministers October 29, 2009 43