This notice is for informational purposes only. There is no requirement to consult on this initiative on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. Learn more about the types of notices on the registry.
Why consultation isn't required
This notice is to advise that the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a Notice of Termination to Stewardship Ontario with regard to the MHSW program that previously operated under the Waste Diversion Transition Act (WDTA).
Public consultation is not required under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 (EBR). The Notice of Termination is the final step in the process to wind up the MHSW program, which was initiated by minister’s direction in April 2018. Section 14 of the Act requires that the Notice of Termination be posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, but does not require that comments be received.
Stewardship Ontario and the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) previously consulted on development of the MHSW wind up plan. The program ceased operations on September 30, 2021.
Bulletin details
Ontario is working on a number of fronts to tackle the issue of waste and its impacts on our health and the environment.
In 2021, the government put the Hazardous and Special Products Regulation in place, making producers of hazardous wastes such as paints and solvents environmentally accountable and financially responsible for the end of life of their products sold in Ontario.
The new regulation replaced the MHSW Program, which ceased operations on September 30, 2021. The government is now taking the final administrative steps to wind up that program.
Minister’s Notice of Termination
On September 11, 2023, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a Notice of Termination for the MHSW program, which ceased operations on September 30, 2021. The program undertook administrative wind up activities between October 2021 and June 2022. On June 8, 2023, Stewardship Ontario, the industry funding organization that operated the MHSW program, submitted its final report to the minister and the RPRA. This report demonstrates that all steps in the wind up plan that was approved by RPRA have been implemented.
The materials collected and managed under the MHSW program or separate industry stewardship plans have been transitioned to Ontario’s producer responsibility framework under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. Single-use batteries have been included in the program under the Batteries Regulation since July 1, 2020, and requirements for the other MHSW materials started on October 1, 2021, as set out in the Hazardous and Special Products Regulation.
Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program
The MHSW program began on September 1, 2008, and ended regular operations on September 30, 2021. The program managed paints, solvents, antifreeze, oil filters, oil containers, pressurized containers, fertilizer, pesticides and single-use batteries. Stewardship Ontario was responsible for operating the MHSW program as the industry funding organization legislated under the WDTA.
Wind-up Plan
Pursuant to Section 14 of the WDTA, on April 12, 2018, the minister directed Stewardship Ontario to develop and implement a wind up plan for the MHSW program. Stewardship Ontario’s wind up plan for the MHSW program was reviewed and approved by RPRA, as required by the WDTA. As the organization responsible for overseeing the operation and wind up of the WDTA programs, RPRA has monitored the MHSW program wind up activities to ensure they comply with the approved wind up plan.
Implementation Plan
As of June 2022, Stewardship Ontario had fully implemented the tasks associated with the approved wind up plan. As required by the WDTA, Stewardship Ontario prepared and submitted its final report on June 8, 2023 regarding the wind up of the MHSW program to the minister and RPRA.
The WDTA sets out that the minister shall issue a notice terminating the program as of the date set out in the notice when a plan to wind up a program has been implemented and the minister has received the final report.
Background
During the MHSW program’s 13 years of operation, 235,000 tonnes of material were collected and recycled or properly disposed. This is in addition to about 120,000 tonnes of material that was also collected through separate approved industry stewardship plans for materials such as paints, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, oil containers, oil filters, antifreeze, pressurized containers, and single-use batteries.
Supporting materials
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