Waste Diversion Through Industry-Led Product Stewardship Programs
Industry-led product stewardship programs aim to make producers entirely responsible for managing the lifecycle of their products, including recycling and safe disposal.
British Columbia has seven established industry-led product stewardship programs in addition to the new Electronic Products Waste Program (initiated in August 2007). Records for the seven established programs show that a large volume of hazardous and non-biodegradable products has been diverted from landfills.
Quantities of products recycled in three key industry stewardship programs [Note different measurements and scale for each graph].
Note: Where tire recovery is more than 100 per cent of tires sold, it was due to recycling of previously stockpiled tires.
1. Household paint, flammable liquids and gasoline, and pesticides. In 2005, 62 per cent of collected paint was recycled, 4 per cent went to other consumers through the Paint Exchange Program and 34 per cent was used as an alternate energy source. All flammable liquids and gasoline were used for energy recovery, and all pesticides were incinerated in licensed facilities.
2. Used oil, oil filters, and oil containers. In 2005 and 2006, more than 47 million litres of used oil were collected (approximately 70 per cent of the oil sold).
3. Scrap tires. Over the past eight years, over 90 per cent of the collected tires have been used as fuel or converted into crumb rubber to manufacture products.
4. Lead-acid batteries. Nearly all batteries sold are collected and recycled. Plastic casings are pelletized for plastics recycling, the sulphuric acid is re-used in industrial processes, and the lead is smelted for re-use.
5. Beverage containers. It is estimated that over 80 per cent of containers have been recovered each year between 2001 to 2005.
6. Medications. Over 18,000 kilograms of pharmaceuticals were collected in 2005 through the return program at participating pharmacies.
7. Tree-marking paint. Waste paint is used as an alternate fuel source and paint containers are recycled.
For more information:
For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth Report [pdf].
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