Posts Tagged ‘OES’
Recycled computers, televisions still ending up in dumps
May 10th, 2010 | 
Author: Published On Sun May 09 2010
In its first year, the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) — a private agency created by provincial regulation — gathered only a third of the 42,000 tonnes of toxin-laced equipment it was originally supposed to collect, according to reports obtained by the Star.
Environment Minister John Gerretsen wants to know why.
“I have been disappointed that (OES) haven’t been able to meet the targets,” Gerretsen said in an interview. “I don’t know what has gone wrong.”
Waste Diversion Ontario, which oversees the OES for the ministry, says the private agency has broken a vital agreement to meet collection standards set out by Gerretsen.
An OES spokesperson blamed the problem on growing pains of a new program.
Here’s how it is supposed to work: Companies or non-profits are designated as “collectors” to pick up used electronics homeowners toss out by the millions. OES pays collectors up to $235 a tonne out of “eco-fees” contained in the cost of each new electronic gadget sold (from $2 to $26 each). The OES then divides the haul from the collectors among eight approved recyclers, which extract usable components and safely dispose of toxic materials, like mercury or beryllium.
The problem, insiders say, is many other collectors have opted out of the provincial program and are selling the material — possibly overseas — for up to five times the OES amount. One concern is that shady recyclers are taking the most lucrative components and illegally dumping the rest in landfills in North America or overseas.
“The current electronic recycling program in Ontario is a failure,” said Coutts.
“It doesn’t meet its targets for diversion and environmentally-sound recycling. And it provides no incentive for investment into green technology and jobs in the province. “
The problems came to a head in January when Waste Diversion Ontario filed a rare “failure to comply,” notice against the OES, whose board includes Sony, Hewlett Packard and Best Buy executives. It told OES it had to do a better job of collecting the material and selling consumers on the program.
Another major recycler, Barrie’s Global Electric Electronic Processing (GEEP), wants the program fixed. Vice-president of international marketing Chris Gariepy says legitimate recycling companies have to spend a lot more money to properly process electronics in Ontario. Other recyclers make more money off the program, but have not made the capital investment in equipment to safely handle e-waste and he said some may not have the proper provincial approvals to do the work.
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