Ontario Says Computer Polluters Must Pay

Ontario has joined several other provinces that have instituted a mandatory fee to cover environmentally responsible disposal of computers and TV sets. Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia are also on the list

Undoubtedly there will be many complaining about yet another tax, and there’s also no doubt that the new Ontario fee will be funneled through manufacturers and sent right back to consumers. Some estimate that $10 will be added to the price of a TV, $2 to $13 to the price of a computer. This new levy goes into effect April 2009. Other items considered to be e-waste will be added at a later date.

On the bright side, the funds raised from the tax will not be added to general government revenues. Rather, it will be sent to the province’s recycling agency, Waste Diversion Ontario, which plans to set up systems for recovering waste electronic hardware.

In the past, it seemed more economical to toss old electronics away rather than going to the trouble and expense to recycle. This is not true. A brilliant eco-slogan warns us that “There is no ‘away.’” With advances in technology and facility management, recycling e-waste is practical, if not profitable. After all, each piece of electronics contains precious metals that can be harvested for profit. On the downside, the machines also contain many toxic materials. Reports show that 40 percent of toxic heavy metals found in Canadian landfills come from e-waste. Experts expect the problem to get worse when Canada converts to digital TV.

To learn more, visit: gov.on.ca