Eco Fees

Newest eco fees eliminated, eco fees restricted to "phase one" products

At a press conference on Tuesday July 20, Ontario's minister of the environment announced that government was ending eco fees on the consumer products designated under phase two of Orange Drop or the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) Program.

What's changed?

Effective July 20, you will not be required to pay an eco fee on any of the potentially thousands of products that fall into one of the 13 material categories added to Orange Drop on July 1, 2010. These include fluorescent tubes and bulbs, aerosols, portable fire extinguishers, mercury-containing devices, and corrosives, such as acidic cleaning products, drain openers, pool and spa chemicals, masonry products and paint remover.

What hasn't changed?

Retailers may still charge you eco fees on any of the nine materials introduced when the program was launched in July 2008. These are:

  • Household paints and coatings and their containers
  • Solvents, such as thinners for paint, lacquer and contact cement, paint strippers and degreasers, and their containers
  • Used oil filters
  • Oil containers of 30 litres or less
  • Single-use, dry cell batteries
  • Automotive antifreeze (engine coolant) and related containers
  • Pressured containers, such as propane tanks and cylinders
  • Fertilizers and their containers
  • Pesticides, including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, and their containers  

What if a retailer tries to charge me an eco fee on another MHSW product?

Please call the government’s consumer-protection hotline at (1-800-889-9768 or TTY: 416-229-6086 or 1-877-666-6545) to report unfair fees.

What about the eco fee I was charged on tires or a new TV?

Only the eco fees associated with phase two of the Orange Drop or MHSW Program have been cancelled. Ontario Electronic Stewardship sets fees for electrical and electronic equipment, while Ontario Tire Stewardship levies fees on tires. These programs are completely outside our jurisdiction.

Will I still be able to return all the Orange Drop products?

Absolutely – diverting as much waste as possible from Ontario’s landfills and waterways is our number-one priority. This year, Orange Drop diverted more than 18 million kg of waste – and we’re on target to divert some 27 million kg under the expanded program launched on July 1, 2010.