Two weeks remain until Nova Scotia institutes a recycling fee on new electronics, but some retailers see flaws in the program.
By Jane Deacon <mr404961@dal.ca>
Posted: Jan. 19, 2008
Next month, Nova Scotians can take unwanted electronics to one of 30 to 35 recycling depots across the province. Photo credit: Waffler/Flickr
With two weeks left until Nova Scotia begins its electronics recycling program, some retailers are confused about the fees they are required to charge customers.
Beginning Feb. 1, consumers will have to pay an environmental handling fee for new computers, televisions and printers to fund provincial electronics recycling depots. The fees range from $5 for a laptop computer to $45 for a large-screen television.
The new program is expected to help divert some of the 4,500 tonnes of electronics deposited yearly into the province’s landfills, says Kathy Palko, a representative of Nova Scotia’s environment department.
Businesses that sell electronic products in Nova Scotia are required to charge the fee, but some retailers are unsure of how to implement the changes.
Wade Prue, co-owner of Halifax computer store Greenlyph, was notified of the fees December 2007 in an e-mail from the Resource Recovery Fund Board, the local partner of the program. Prue says the document does not sufficiently explain how to implement the changes.
Prue is unsure whether it is the responsibility of retailers or the companies who supply electronics to retailers to charge and report the fee. He is also uncertain of the protocol for purchasing products from an out-of-province supplier, and whether there are fees on the sale of individual components of a computer or television system.
He contacted the board with his concerns in mid-December. He is still waiting for a reply. He is hoping to have some answers by the Feb. 1 deadline and is unsure of what he’ll do if he doesn’t.
“If they told us here is how we’re going to collect the fees and this is who we’re going to collect them from, we would be more than happy to comply, but we can’t just start demanding money from customers without knowing where the money is going,” says Prue.
Jay Illingworth, interim director of the electronics recycling program, says suppliers and retailers will have to work out among themselves who will be responsible for the fee.
Store owners are unsure of the fees for individual components of computers. Photo credit: Jane Deacon
Illingworth expects challenges, but is confident Nova Scotians will recognize and appreciate the benefits of recycling electronics.
Beginning in February, Nova Scotians will be able to drop off their unwanted electronics at one of 30 to 35 recycling depots across the province. Nova Scotia has also banned the disposal of electronics in landfills.
“No matter what kind of electronic it is, you can take it back to the depot free of charge with the assurance that it is going to be responsibly recycled,” says Illingworth.
This means that there is no unsafe exporting of electronics and that environmental and occupational regulations are strictly adhered to, says Illingworth.
Stephen Bourke, manager of Dalhousie University’s Personal Computer Purchase Center, says he supports the program but is concerned because the province hasn’t disclosed the locations of the depot sites.
Illingworth said Friday his office will release the locations of the depots in seven to 10 days.
Bourke is also unsure of the specifics of charging the fee. He feels as though the program has been “just slapped together,” and that more time may be needed for organization. He says his customers are largely unaware of the new program.
Electronic recycling will help divert some of the 4,500 tonnes of electronics deposited in landfills yearly. Photo credit: Image*After
Charlene Boyce Young, a representative for non-profit environmental organization Clean Nova Scotia, says delaying the program would not make sense.
“I don’t think it’s fair at this point to say that every Nova Scotian should know about this program. Not every Nova Scotian knows what to do with their recyclables,” says Young.
She says implementing the program will help educate people and that seeing the fee will make people more aware of the impact of throwing out merchandise.
Illingworth is confident about the success of the program.
“Our strong position is that we’ve done a good job… I think that folks in Nova Scotia have always shown environmental leadership and been open to recycling,” says Illingworth.
Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan have similar province wide regulations on electronics recycling.
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