Environment Canada announces EPR for Ozone Depleting Substances

Dear Member:

The federal Environment Ministry has announced its intention to establish regulations under the Environmental Protection Act to manage the end-of-life of ozone-depleting substances and their halocarbon alternatives.

The need for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program to avoid the ultimate release of ODSs and their alternatives was recognized early on in Canada. Two national initiatives under the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment called for an EPR program, namely Canada's Strategy to Accelerate the Phase-Out of CFC and Halon Uses and to Dispose of the Surplus Stocks and the May 2001 National Action Plan for the Environmental Control of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) and their Halocarbon Alternatives. This National Action Plan identified the need to develop and implement control measures to support EPR programs.

While industry has taken the lead in the development and implementation of voluntary EPR programs for certain ODSs, a regulation is now needed to ensure that a level playing field exists across Canada. These industry-led programs target surplus ozone-depleting refrigerants only, not their HFC or PFC alternatives. In addition, they are limited to the stationary refrigeration and air conditioning sectors only.

The establishment of EPR regulations would address existing gaps in the life cycle management of ODSs and their halocarbon alternatives. It would also lead to important environmental benefits for both ozone and climate protection since ODSs and their halocarbon alternatives are potent greenhouse gases and are also known to contribute to climate change.

Download and review the pdf document (Canada Gazette) from the Ministry and submit your comments no later than July 30, 2009.

Comments must be addressed to Minister Jim Prentice, cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, and the date of publication of this notice (May 30, 2009), and be sent to: ozoneprotectionprograms@ec.gc.ca