Ontario a leader in e-waste diversion

Re Bad policy, junk recycling, Editorial April 27 Ontarians have helped us collect more e-waste than any other diversion program of its kind in Canada. They deserve to know that these materials are being managed safely and responsibly, and how we ensure compliance. This is a major global issue and Ontario is demonstrating real leadership.

The April 27 editorial represents the interests of a sole recycler, represented by Cindy Coutts, and accuses its competitors of non-compliant activity under our program. For the record, my office has never received documented concerns or information from Coutts on these claims, and I understand that Waste Diversion Ontario has launched an investigation into her allegations.

In the past 12 months, OES enhanced the integrity of the program by introducing new reforms affecting our network of service providers — collectors and processors alike. We also strengthened and improved processes to better monitor service provider standards and e-waste recycling outcomes. These changes were designed to eliminate non-compliant activities such as the use of unapproved third-party recycling processors.

Even though our program is still young, it is working for Ontarians and our environment, and we have stepped up accountability. In the past year alone, OES sanctioned many of our processors and demanded repayment of incentives wrongly claimed.

Sanctions for non-compliance range from repayment of incentives to suspension to termination from the program. Our penalties reflect the severity of the transgression; this ranges from reporting errors to seeking incentives for non-Ontario materials.

To ensure program rules are strictly followed, we employ a variety of strategies, such as: site inspections; material review to ensure origin and program eligibility; weight review and samples; health and safety inspections; and downstream verification.

Jonathan Spencer, Executive Director, Ontario Electronic Stewardship, Toronto