RECYCLING COUNCIL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
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Consultation on the Beverage Container Product Category in the Recycling Regulation
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October 18, 2011 |
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Member Advisory Consultation on the Beverage Container Product Category in the Recycling Regulation |
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Dear Member: To support the industry-led beverage container management programs, the Ministry of Environment intends to consult with stakeholders to identify potential opportunities to increase program performance with the least incremental financial impact to consumers and the producer programs. Background The overall recovery rate of beverage containers for recycling in British Columbia is over 80 per cent and continues to be one of the highest in North America. Nonetheless, annual recovery rates have not increased significantly over the past few years and, in 2010, over 285 million containers were unaccounted for and likely discarded into the municipal garbage stream or as litter. The producers of beverages sold in BC are responsible for the management of their beverage containers, including collection and recycling. The Recycling Regulation establishes stewardship responsibilities for producers and sellers of ready-to-serve beverages except milk and milk substitutes. What is being consulted on? While the Recycling Regulation is designed to provide the beverage industry with the maximum flexibility to achieve the environmental objectives set by the Province, the Beverage Container Product Category contains prescriptive measures intended to help incent higher program performance. This consultation will focus on the influence of the prescriptive measures in the Beverage Container Product Category, Schedule 1 of the Recycling Regulation. The provisions from Schedule 1 that are under review are:
This consultation process will be limited to the above provisions that are intended to support and improve performance in industry’s approved product stewardship programs. Beverage producers’ stewardship programs have specific and separate program review requirements every 5 years as per Section 6 of the Recycling Regulation. How can I participate in the consultation? A consultation workshop will be held in Vancouver on November 23, 2011 at 9 a.m. at the Downtown BCIT campus (555 Seymour St.) Room details will be posted on site. Please RSVP to eqb@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca, with the subject line, “Beverage Container Consultation” by November 17th, if you plan to attend the consultation workshop. It is recommended to anyone unable to attend this consultation workshop to submit your comments regarding the prescriptive measures of the Beverage Container Product Category. Submissions should include suggestions on potential opportunities to enhance the performance of the Beverage Container Program without a significant increase in costs to consumers and producers. Written comments should be sent by November 30th, either by e-mail to eqb@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca or by mail to the Ministry of Environment, Industry Product Stewardship, PO Box 9341 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9M1. A draft report, summarizing the consultation findings, will be publically available for review and comment in early 2012. These comments will be included in the final Stakeholder Consultation Summary Report. Next Steps? The Ministry will review and consider the findings of this initial stakeholder consultation and consider further action. Where can I find more Information? If you are interested in receiving information on this consultation, and other BC Industry Product Stewardship Programs please sign-up to the Ministry of Environment’s Extended Producer Responsibility e-mail list or refer to the Recycling Council of British Columbia’s (RCBC) Product Stewardship Updates. These links and other relevant websites are provided below:
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