Issue 3: January 27, 2009

Industry representatives needed to provide technical guidance
during MHSW plan development

Industry representatives critical to planning success – nominees sought 
Stewardship Ontario is seeking technical representatives to serve on material Working Groups that are being set up to provide input into the development of an expanded Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) program plan. Those of you who attended the January 14th steward meeting will know that Stewardship Ontario is required by the Minister of the Environment to develop a plan for an amended and expanded MHSW program fully funded by industry stewards by July 2009.

The plan will cover the following 21 obligated materials/material groups, including the nine materials targeted in the original Phase 1 waste diversion plan. For the purposes of Working Group consultations, some of the materials have been grouped as follows:

Working Group No.1―Flammables & Solvents
Working Group No.2―Corrosives
Working Group No.3―Toxic & Leachate Toxic
Working Group No.4―Batteries 
Working Group No.5―Fire Extinguishers & Pressurized Containers
Working Group No.6―Aerosol Containers
Working Group No.7―Fertilizers
Working Group No.8―Pesticides
Working Group No.9―Paints & Coatings
Working Group No.10―Fluorescent Bulbs & Tubes
Working Group No.11―Oil Containers & Antifreeze & Oil Filters
Working Group No.12―Pharmaceuticals
Working Group No.13―Sharps, Syringes
Working Group No.14―Switches & Mercury-Containing Measuring Devices
 
What do we need from you?  
Technical representatives are being sought for each of the Working Groups listed above.   We anticipate each material group will meet a few times over the coming months in sessions that will be facilitated by our consultants – StewardEdge/CSR and PSTG Consulting. The Working Groups and their members will help the consultants:

• provide, validate, interpret data on product sales & quantities available for collection 
• identify any inconsistencies and gaps in the data;
• identify and involve technical resources from the industry for input, where required;
• identify existing diversion programs and options and their cost
• provide input on targets (accessibility, diversion), material fee rates, and other key program elements

While our consultants are responsible for collecting and collating data and developing the program model, receiving accurate information directly from stewards will ensure that the resultant business and fee allocation models are sound and accurate.

Please note that in addition to the material Working Groups, a separate MHSW Steering Committee is being assembled. This committee will be made up of industry association representatives and will oversee general program development.

How will the material working groups operate?
To make the most efficient use of participants’ time, e-mail and web/tele-conferences will be used as the primary vehicle through which each Working Groups will communicate and provide data.  The timelines set for this project are aggressive, but we believe that they are achievable with the active engagement of the stewards. Initial meetings with individual working groups are planned for early February. To plan your participation in the Working Group(s), please refer to Background Information, including the proposed material group definitions. To view a summary of the work that the program planning team must complete to deliver the MHSW program plan on time please see: Key Milestones.

How will we determine which products are obligated under the regulation and the Minister’s Program Request Letter?
While the list of municipal hazardous and special material is defined and not open to discussion, it is our intent to continue to refine the list of products associated with each material group.  Our approach will be to identify any problematic products through the Working Groups and then seek direction from the Steering Committee and from the Ministry of the Environment. While awaiting clarification, we are still expected to collect the relevant data associated with the products in question.

How to join a Working Group
Please register online to signal your intention to join one or more Working Groups. Working Group registrations will be accepted up to Thursday, February 5, 2009. If you have any questions about a particular Working Group, please contact directly its facilitator (as shown below).

Derek Patterson―Tel: 416-593-0000 or dpatterson@pstgconsulting.com

• Flammable & Solvents
• Portable Fire Extinguishers & Pressurized Containers
• Aerosol Containers
• Paints & Coatings

Sylvia Tello―Tel: 416-593-0000 or stello@pstgconsulting.com

• Corrosive Materials
• Oil containers & Antifreeze & Oil Filters
• Sharps & Syringes

Aaron Williamson―Tel: 416-593-0000 or awilliamson@pstgconsulting.com

• Toxic & Leachate Toxic
• Pesticides
• Fertilizers
• Pharmaceuticals

Isabelle Faucher―Tel: 416-646-3064 or ifaucher@stewardshipontario.ca

• Mercury switches & mercury-containing measuring devices
• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes

Derek Stephenson―Tel: 416-594-3459 or dstephenson@stewardshipontario.ca

• Batteries

Questions or Concerns
If you have any general questions or concerns please email Isabelle Faucher: ifaucher@stewardshipontario.ca or call 416-646-3064.