Important notice for all phase-one MHSW stewards

• New Q3 deadline for phase-one MHSW reporting and payment
• Reporting portal available September 1, 2010
• New fee schedule effective July 1, 2010

Stewardship Ontario has moved the deadline from July 31 to September 30, 2010 for Q3 reporting and payment of all nine-phase one materials. Steward payments will reflect the latest MHSW fees, which took effect July 1, 2010.

What do you need to know?

• WHAT: Report on phase-one materials only
  You need only report and make payments on the program’s original nine materials – paints and coatings and their containers; solvents and their containers; oil filters; oil containers; single-use dry-cell batteries; automotive antifreeze and related containers; pressurized containers, such as propane tanks and cylinders; fertilizers and their containers; and pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and their containers.
  
  Note: You are reporting on materials that meet phase-one definitions only. Expansions to these definitions that were introduced as part of the consolidated program do not apply.
  
  
• WHAT: Fee schedule updated
  While you are reporting on the original nine materials, the fees you pay will reflect the fee schedule approved for these materials, effective July 1, 2010.
  
  
• HOW: Make payments using Q2 sales data for nine materials only
  In keeping with the move, under the consolidated program, to collect fees in advance (i.e., at the beginning of the quarter) rather than in arrears (after the quarter end), payment will be based on the actual sales reported for the previous quarter. This means calculation of your Q3 obligation will be based on the data collected on these materials for the second quarter, i.e., April 1-June 30. To make this process as easy as possible, the tonnage needed for your submission will be pre-populated in your prior period quantity column on the reporting portal.
  
  
• WHEN: Reports and payments due September 30
  The reporting portal will be available beginning September, 1, 2010 – the final deadline for reporting and payment of your Q3 obligation is September 30. Information on the reporting and payment deadline for Q4 will only be available after the 90-day suspension on phase-two fees and pending the release of a revised MHSW program. Questions? Contact a member of our Steward Services team at 1-888-288-3360.

Q&A

Why do I have to pay the new fees on sales I made before the consolidated program took effect?

We learned during phase one of the program that it is too risky for Stewardship Ontario to incur program costs months in advance of when stewards are to report and pay fees. This can lead to the accumulation of significant program deficits that are eventually reflected in higher fees. Accordingly, when the consolidated program was developed, the fee payment schedule was revised so that stewards would pay fees in advance (in the first month of the quarter in which costs are incurred), instead of in arrears (the first month after the quarter in which the costs were incurred). However, we would continue to allocate costs based on sales made in the previous quarter.

Does this not mean I pay more fees than I should?

No. The payment in each quarter will be based on sales during the previous quarter so, over the course of the year, the total fees paid for the year will map to the costs incurred for the year (that is, any seasonal variation in sales/costs will be eliminated over time).

We appreciate that recent events surrounding the MHSW program have caused much confusion and you have our assurance that Stewardship Ontario will do its utmost to assist and support you throughout the process.

With that in mind, a Q & A sheet will be posted on our website and refreshed as required. Again, we encourage you to contact a member of our Steward Services team at 1-888-288-3360 if assistance or additional information is required.