Municipalities

1) Is every municipality required to provide MHSW services, to participate with the Stewardship Ontario MHSW program?

Unlike blue box, there is no provincial regulation requiring a municipality to offer MHSW services. Many municipalities have MHSW programs in order to protect the environment by giving homeowners a place to properly dispose of MHSW. There is no obligation to participate in the Stewardship Ontario MHSW program.

2) What is the benefit of participating in Stewardship Ontario’s MHSW program?

The Minister's program letter states that Stewardship Ontario is responsible for program activities after the initial collection of phase one waste at the MHSW or other collection facilities. Examples of appropriate activities include: transportation of waste from collection facilities, processing, recycling and disposal of waste, and other related waste management activities; and promotional and public education activities.

For a municipality with an existing MSHW program, it is estimated that the MSHW program plan will cover as much as 80 per cent of current municipal costs of managing Phase I materials.

3) How can a municipality participate in the MHSW program?

The MHSW Program Plan provides that each participating municipality will need to enter into an agreement with Stewardship Ontario in order to benefit from the program, to receive either reimbursement or services from Stewardship Ontario.

6) Will every municipality have the same agreement?

The Municipal MHSW Shared Responsibility Agreement is structured so that the body of the agreement is generic for all municipalities and the schedules will contain the information specific to each municipality.

7) Will there be different “deals” for different municipalities?

It is Stewardship Ontario’s intention that all municipalities are dealt with consistently. However, in completing the shared responsibility agreements, Stewardship Ontario will have to respond to the pre-existing variations and limitations under existing municipal service provider agreements. Where possible, Stewardship Ontario will, with municipal input, develop policies regarding matters such as compensation for promotion and education.

8) What compensation do municipalities get when they operate reuse programs?
  • Municipalities are encouraged but not obligated to operate reuse programs.
  • Reuse programs operated pursuant to MHSW agreements will be eligible for “value added” compensation as outlined in the table below 
Phase one item
 $ per Container
<= 3L		 $ per Container
>3L
Paints and coatings - Non aerosol $0.60 $1.00
Paints and coatings - Aerosols $0.60 N/A
Solvents $0.60 $1.00
Antifreeze $0.60 $1.00
Fertilizers $0.60 $1.00
Pressurized containers $0.60 N/A*
NOTE: * Used pressurized containers larger than 3 litres will not be eligible for the reuse compensation due to safety concerns.
  • Phase one items not eligible for the compensation are oil filters, oil containers, single use dry cell batteries and pesticides. Municipalities can arrange for reuse of these or other products but will not receive reuse compensation.
  • The compensation system outlined above may be modified following an analysis of reuse program costs and procedures which is planned for year one of the MHSW program.
  • For more information, please refer to the letter to municipalities dated June 23, 2008 
9) Would a municipality be able to claim the cost of directly landfilling containers for which there is no 3Rs solution?

Municipalities that have signed a MHSW Shared Responsibility Agreement with Stewardship Ontario will be reimbursed except for auto MHSW containers (oil containers and antifreeze containers) which are managed under the transporters and processors incentive system. For more information about this incentive system, visit this page in our Service Providers section. 

 

10) Will Stewardship Ontario pay for the disposal of empty oil/antifreeze containers if there are no 3Rs options?

Empty oil and antifreeze containers are considered automotive MHSW and are therefore managed under the transporters and processors incentive system. Under this system registered transporters are paid an incentive fee to recover oil and antifreeze containers that are transported to a registered processor.  No payments are made for oil or antifreeze containers that are sent to landfill.

11) As a municipality, do I have to register as a collection site operator ?

No. municipalities do not have to register as a collection site operator. Registration is necessary for industry-run collection sites.