As the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) program continues to be wound-down through the efforts of Stewardship Ontario (SO) and the Resources Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA), the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is in the process of drafting new legislation and regulations for affected industry steward categories.
This activity is important for propane stewards as it provides an opportunity for the sector’s participation in the revised program to be considerably narrower than the current regime. The CPA has communicated its preferred position on this issue to the minister and his policy staff during this past year. As previously reported, last year the minister endorsed the CPA’s position that the revised program captures only non-refillable, small pressurized cylinders as all other propane cylinders contribute to the circular economy and have done so for decades.
On July 6, Ontario Government Relations Director, Marcelline Riddell, spoke to the minister’s policy advisor, Benjamin Sharma, who is responsible for drafting the new program legislation. Riddell outlined the CPA position with respect to this program and inquired about the expected timing for the pressurized container legislation. Sharma informed Riddell that the expectation is that pressurized container program requirements will closely follow those established for the battery category set out in 2019. He indicated that he believes the rationale provided by the CPA is sound and aligned with the policy objectives of the new act and government. He also conveyed that legislative drafting for this category should begin in the fall of 2020. Riddell asked to be kept apprised of any changes to this position and timing and committed to follow-up with him later this summer.
On July 9, Stewardship Ontario consultant Doug Mander informed Riddell that propane stewards can expect to see invoice reductions on their July statements reflecting the beginning of surplus funds disbursements.