Issue 131: January 29, 2010

In this Issue:

• Major Upgrade to Steward Reporting System
• Accessing the System to File 2009 Data
• Transitioning to the Consolidated MHSW Program—Reporting Requirements and Timelines

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PHASE 1 MHSM STEWARDS

Steward Quarterly Filing System will be
suspended from Feb. 13 - 28

Stewardship Ontario is pleased to advise Municipal Hazardous and Special Materials (MHSM) stewards that we are making major upgrades to our steward reporting system which will improve efficiency and security.

In order to bring the upgraded system online we need to suspend it for two weeks starting
February 12.

By now you should have filed your 4th quarter 2009 report (due January 31). If you have not submitted the report, or any outstanding reports from previous quarters, please take the time to complete the work before mid-day, Friday, February 12. Investing the time now to submit or finalize any incomplete quarterly reports will save you time when you have to file your Annual 2009 MHSM Steward’s Report in March.

Accessing the system to file 2009 data beginning on March 1

When the system goes live again on Monday, March 1 you will see redesigned reporting screens that are simple and easy to use when you are submitting reports.  Before March 1, Stewardship Ontario will send steward primary contacts an email that will contain your user ID and a temporary password. In most cases, your user ID will be what you have used over the past year. However, in some cases where the user ID is not unique, e.g. there are two J. Smiths, we will add a character to make each ID individual.

Since passwords are secure and confidential, we cannot access them for reuse. Therefore, the system will assign a new and unique temporary password.  Once you enter the new reporting system, called “WeRecycle.stewardshipontario.ca,” it will ask you to update your password to one of your choice. Supporting documents to introduce you to the system and guide you through the filing process will be provided before the end of February and our customer service team also will be available to help if needed.

You can reach customer service at: phone: 1-888-288-3360 (choose option 3) or
416-594-1289. Email:  mhsmsteward@stewardshipontario.ca

Preparing for March filing

MHSM stewards fall into two categories. Each category will have separate reporting requirements:

• Companies obligated as Phase 1 stewards who have NO additional materials designated under the consolidated MHSW program:
• If you have filed all four quarters of your 2009 steward reports and only report products where definitions have not changed under the 2010 Rules (e.g. oil containers, oil filters, pressurized containers) you will be required only to log into the filing system and confirm your report.
•  If you have not filed all four quarters of your 2009 steward reports, you will be required to re-enter all 2009 data.
• If you are responsible for materials with expanded definitions (e.g. antifreeze, batteries, paints, solvents, fertilizer and pesticides), you will be required to provide some additional information.  Further directions on this will be provided shortly.
• Companies obligated as Phase 1 stewards who have responsibility for ADDITIONAL MATERIALS designated under the consolidated MHSW program will need to provide data about the consolidated materials in their reports. Information about filing these reports also will be provided shortly.

Remember, no payment is required with the March report. The data provided at this time by Phase 1 and new MHSM stewards will be used to recalculate the fees included in the preliminary fee schedule in the Consolidated MHSW Program Plan. Many of the fees are expected to be reduced. The updated fee schedule will be published before June 30, 2010. The new fees come into effect July 1, 2010. 

Stewardship Ontario provides tools on our website to help you prepare data to file reports including:

• Understanding the Consolidated Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program: A handbook for companies that may have legal obligations under the program.
• Reference Chart for Designated Materials (provides a description of each material category with product examples, changes from Phase 1 and other information).  This document has been updated.
• The Steward Reporting Matrix (describes material sub-categories and units of measure that will help companies put together the data for the first report due by the end of March).  This document has been updated.
• The Decision Process for MHSW with Multiple Properties (provides more information on how to report materials/products that may fall under more than one material category).

Transitioning to the Consolidated MHSW Program—Reporting Requirements and Timelines

As stewards transition from Phase 1 to the consolidated program there will a number of different reports that Phase 1 stewards will be required to file. 

The Reporting Requirements and Timelines for March and July, 2010 is customized to clarify requirements for Phase 1 stewards. The table also includes a timeline for new stewards under the consolidated program.