Alberta Recycling Management Authority NAHMMA Hazardous Materials Management Conference Christine Della Costa September 22, 2005

Outline Framework for Alberta’s regulated stewardship programs Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) Electronics, tires HHW

What’s the Problem? (Or … why are we doing this??) We need to: Reduce or divert the amount of material going to landfill Preserve non-renewable resources through effective recycling programs Remove hazardous materials from Alberta’s air, land, water

A Viable Recycling Solution … Needs: – Competitive forces – Adequate capacity and market – Service to all regions of province/state – Value-added products Solutions can be market-driven, or driven by government regulation. Either way, the consumer pays … the issue is effectiveness.

The Alberta Approach (For electronics, tires, used oil materials, beverage containers) Material designated under regulation – Level playing field; reliable funding for program Dedicated fund – Accountability and transparency – Separate fund for each material type “ Stakeholder” management – Affected parties make decisions; arms length from Government

Framework for Alberta’s Regulated Stewardship Programs Regulation under the Act – Designates the material: e.g., electronics, tires – Delegates authority to set and collect fees To a “Delegated Administrative Organization” (DAO) – Prescribes use of funds Recycling program, R&D, Communications, Marketing – Defines reporting and accountability requirements

What is a DAO? Not-for-profit organization under the Alberta Societies Act Three DAOs: tires & electronics; used oil materials; beverage containers Arms length from government, but accountable to the Minister of Environment Stakeholder governance – Board representation: municipal, environmental, technical, public, industry, government Full management, financial administration

Electronics Program: A Brief History 2002/03: Electronics industry develops a national program model – Focused on residential TVs and desktop computers – EPSC Provincial realities: – Jurisdiction/revenue allocation/accountability – Readiness to implement – Enforcement (e.g., who ensures revenue compliance) Desire to harmonize provincial programs as much as possible

Electronics Program: Brief History 2004: Alberta program emerges Input sought on proposed Alberta program – Ongoing discussions with industry; responded to industry’s priorities – Public stakeholder consultation: strong support in principle – Learned from Alberta’s voluntary computer recycling program Draft Program developed, with core directives from Government

Electronics Program: Brief History Core Directives from Government: CCME principles Level revenue playing field Reasonable access for all Albertans Build on municipal partnership, infrastructure Include commercial waste Open program for recyclers Fair access / Market competition Accountability

Electronics Program: Brief History Regulation passed in May 2004 – Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) the managing DAO Phased Program Implementation: – Oct 2004 – Collection and Processing initiated Services established first, revenue second Processor qualification initiated – Feb 2005 – Fees initiated on applicable electronics Allowed industry more start-up time

ARMA Structure ARMA is run by a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors and is accountable to the Minister of Environment It has two divisions: 1. Tire Recycling Alberta 2. Electronics Recycling Alberta Each material (tires, electronics) has its own separate fund Each has an Industry Council, with each Council’s Chair being a voting member on the ARMA Board of Directors

Electronics Program Revenues: Fee structure implemented – Computer Equipment Laptops/electronic notebooks$ 5 Printers/Printer combos$ 8 Computers (incl. mouse, keyboard, cables, etc.)$10 Computer Monitors (CRT and LCD)$12 – Televisions 18” screen and under$15 19” – 29” screen$25 30” – 45” screen$30 46” and over$45

Electronics Program Fees can only be used for: – Collection, transportation and recycling of end-of-life electronics material – Public information and awareness – Research into better recycling technologies – Market development – Program administration

Electronics Program Revenues – Supplier registration and compliance 1600 suppliers registered Revenues ahead of projected budget Completeness of revenue is critical – Comprehensive compliance processes established

Electronics Program Collection network for Albertans – Municipal participation and infrastructure More than 100 designated collection sites to-date Landfills, transfer stations, eco-stations, recycling depots, round-ups Communications support – education/awareness Collection requirements and handling payment

Electronics Program Processing Four processors registered and operating – Are paid a per/tonne rate for processing, and for transportation (three transport “zones”) – Compete for municipal clients – End-of-life material only – no funding for reuse/resale of electronics equipment – Extensive environmental audit – first annual processor audit complete – April: deficiency correction process, downstream verification process

Electronics: Recycling Results Approximately 1800 tonnes of e-waste processed as of August 2005, which translates to: – 43,000 monitors – 39,000 computers – 23,000 printers – 18,000 televisions

Tire Program: History Tire program was created in 1992 No recycling industry at the time Fee: $4/per tire – Retail sales; no manufacturer involvement Solutions were investigated inc. tire derived fuel – with public rejection Early accepted solution was civil engineering applications inc. leachate layer for landfill cells

Tire Program: Current In Alberta: Three million tires are bought, discarded, and recycled per year 35 million tires recycled since 1992 – All tire stockpiles have been eliminated Recycled product in 140 community projects – paving stones, blocks, roofing tiles, crumb

Household Hazardous Waste ARMA has administered the HHW program (on behalf of AENV) for the last two years Program is currently a cost share arrangement between municipalities and AENV More than $1 million per/year to run the program Treats & safely disposes of over one million litres of HHW materials each year Majority of material collected is paint About 200 communities participated in 2004/05

Questions? ARMA Website: