International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

In addition to variations in the magnitude of the charge, there are also variations in
the visibility of the charge. In some areas the ‘eco-fee’ is visible and can be identified
by consumers. There are, however, areas where the fee is hidden and simply
included in the price of the paints.
32.1.2 Key Organisations Involved in Implementation and Management
The organisation responsible for the management of the charge can vary dependent
on the type of scheme implemented.
Where enhanced producer responsibility schemes are utilised, revenue accrued is
usually managed by a not-for-profit organisation, normally operated by industry. The
organisation is also responsible for facilitating recycling activities by utilising the
revenue accrued through the fund. A selected example follows.
32.1.2.1 Product Care Scheme - Canada
The Product Care scheme is a not-for-profit producer responsibility scheme which
manages product stewardship programs for household hazardous and special waste
on behalf of its members across Canada. The scheme manages stewardship
programs in British Columbia for paint, flammable liquids, pesticides and gasoline,
and in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick for paint only. 620
In British Columbia, Product Care was enabled and created as a result of the Post-
Consumer Paint Stewardship Program Regulation (British Columbia Regulation.
200/94), which was enacted in 1994 under the Waste Management Act.
The Act requires paint producers take cradle-to-grave responsibility for the
management of the products that contribute to the household hazardous waste
stream. To maintain a "level playing field" amongst paint producers, the regulation
was amended on June 26, 1997 to include all paints sold in pressurized containers
(aerosols). In 2004, this regulation was replaced by the Recycling Regulation. 621
32.2 Pre-implementation / Evaluation Studies Available
In British Columbia, the pre-implementation report ‘Greener Homes, Cleaner
Communities’ noted that legislation would be required to increase the capture in
household hazardous waste, which includes paint. We have been unable to obtain a
copy of this report but note that its findings were an important factor in the
development of the regulations in British Columbia.
Considering the evaluation studies in British Columbia, Gardner Pinfold Consulting 622
conducted an economic assessment of the Product Care scheme in British Columbia.
620 Adapted from: http://productcare.org/about.html [Accessed March 2009]
621 Adapted from http://www.ec.gc.ca/epr/default.asp?lang=En&n=3A0FB78D-1#programdetails
[Accessed March 2009]
622 Gardner Pinfold Consulting (2008) Economic Impacts of the BC Recycling Regulation, Report for
Ministry of Environment Environmental Quality Branch. Available at:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/recycling/resources/reports/econ.htm
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