International Environment Delegation Learning from Practice

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--International Environment Delegation Learning from Practice

Delegates from across Canada and around the world are in Nova Scotia to learn how to get manufacturers to accept responsibility for their products from beginning to end.

Nova Scotia's Environment and Labour Minister, Kerry Morash, welcomed delegates to the 3rd National Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Workshop today, March 4. This year's theme is Learning from Practice.

"Nova Scotia is a world leader in recycling and composting and in the year 2000 we were able to cut our waste disposed per capita in half. But that means we still have another 50 per cent to go," said Mr. Morash. "To address the rest of our waste means we need industries to take responsibility for their products after they leave the store shelf, as is the case with Nova Scotia's successful Paint Recycling Program and the Canada-wide rechargeable battery recycling initiative."

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a concept that requires the producers of products to accept responsibility for their products throughout their entire life cycle. A goal of EPR is to have manufacturers incorporate environmental improvements in the design of their products. Currently, there are dozens of EPR programs across Canada. Many are mandatory but some are voluntary.

The benefits of EPR programs can be varied. Some programs help manufacturers improve the environmental performance of their products. Others may lead to systemwide measures that help incorporate waste resource management into the cost of a product or that result in more local processing of products and therefore more jobs in a community.

Mr. Morash told delegates that Nova Scotia is increasing efforts to develop an EPR program to address the growing problem of electronic wastes. During this workshop, Environment and Labour staff will learn about successful EPR programs and how to adapt that knowledge into their electronic waste reduction program.

"I challenge all Nova Scotia organizations to adopt EPR programs and practices so we can further eliminate waste and protect our environment," said Mr. Morash. "But this is not solely a government concern. There are also successful examples of industries that are voluntarily using the EPR approach."

He said more than 300 manufacturers and marketers of the portable power industry voluntarily established and fund the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). Through this program, the RBRC works with retailers, businesses and community recycling programs to set up convenient drop-off locations for the collection and recycling of used rechargeable batteries.

"The RBRC program is the result of our industry's commitment to conserving natural resources and helping to prevent rechargeable batteries from entering the solid waste stream," said Susan Antler, Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation's Canadian program co-ordinator.

The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour is co- hosting the two-day workshop with Environment Canada. Resource Recovery Fund Board Nova Scotia is a key sponsor.