The provincial government announced a major overhaul to Ontario’s recycling program that could see the much hated “eco fee” removed from consumers bills.
Eco fees are environmental handling charges that the government uses to pay for recycling e-waste.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of computers, cameras, cellphones and other electronic devices must be stripped down and shredded in order to divert them from landfill sites.
But the eco fees would not be removed completely. Instead of the cost being added to the consumer when purchasing a new electronic device, the costs would be built into the price.
The provincial government says under the current program there is little incentive to ensure manufactures are doing their best to recycle the products they make.
Environment Minister Glen Murray says that the changes could lead to lower prices for consumers.
“It will create more competition in the marketplace that should reduce the cost pressures of the cost of recovering materials,” Murray said.
Ali Khan is a salesman at 2001 Audio Video and says that when he sells large electronic products, customers are often “furious” when they have to pay the eco fee.
“They want to know where the money is going, what exactly the money is getting used for,” Khan said.
The eco fee can range from 75 cents for items like a computer keyboard to $39.50 for a big screen television.
“Customers are always upset about it,” Khan added.
With a report from Pat Foran.
