Issue 135: February 12, 2010

In this Issue:

• Revised Blue Box Program Plan Posted for Review – Consultation Webcast Feb. 17
• Filing your 2010 Steward Reports – Online Reporting System Available March 1

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR BLUE BOX STEWARDS

Revised Blue Box Program Plan Posted Today for Review:

Consultation Webcast Wednesday, Feb. 17

Stewardship Ontario has posted the Draft Preliminary Revised Blue Box Program Plan for review by stewards and stakeholders prior to the consultation webcast scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 17.

The plan has been revised in response to a request from the Minister of the Environment to set a new recycling target of 70% to be achieved by the end of 2011. Currently the recycling target in Ontario is 60% and that target has been exceeded. For stewards and stakeholders familiar with the current plan, the most notable changes in the revised plan reflect:

• Expanding the definition of Printed Paper and Packaging to including printed paper-like products and packaging-like products, e.g., aluminum pie plates, that are compatible with current collection and management systems
• Revising the methodology for calculating diversion by including additional quantities of residential waste collected through non-municipal systems, e.g. private sector pick-up at multi-residential buildings and charity drives
• Measures and related costs associated with achieving a recycling rate of 70% by the end
  of 2011

The draft plan also updates the original Blue Box Program Plan to reflect subsequent direction from the Minister and approved changes to that plan.

Comments on the plan will be accepted until end of business on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.

This consultation is not intended to review 2010 fees nor pre-empt the usual fee setting process and consultation that takes place in early Fall.

Webcast Schedule:
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 EST (approximately)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 17

Stewards and stakeholders are asked to register to participate in the webcast. Information concerning how to log on to it will be distributed by email on Feb. 16 to those who have registered.

Questions can be directed to: Customer Service at 1-888-288-3360;
Email: customerservice@stewardshipontario.ca 

Reminder: Steward's Reports Due By March 31

Upgraded Online System Opens March 1

Stewards who were notified of their legal obligation under the Blue Box Program on December 29 are reminded that your Steward’s Report for 2010 is due to be filed by March 31 this year. The upgraded online reporting system will be available beginning March 1.

When the reporting system goes online on March 1, stewards will see redesigned screens that will step you through the reporting function easily. In order to implement the upgrade, Stewardship Ontario will be suspending the current reporting system beginning tomorrow, Feb. 12.   

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, 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.

The first quarterly payment which is 25% of the total 2010 fees is due by April 30, 2010.