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This is one in a series of Compliance Promotion Bulletins (COMPROs) prepared by Environment Canada - Ontario Region for Federal Facilities operating in Ontario |
COMPRO 9 is of interest to federal departments, agencies and crown corporations, First Nations, and all tenants on federal and aboriginal lands in Ontario that own or operate office buildings, hospitals, educational institutions or multi-unit residential buildings, or that undertake construction or demolition projects. COMPRO 9:
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The 3Rs Regulations (Reduction, Reuse and Recycling) were published in the Ontario Gazette on March 3, 1994. The primary objective of the regulations was to ensure that Ontario reduced municipal waste going to landfill by 50 percent by the year 2000. Since this target was not accomplished, the Province of Ontario promulgated the Waste Diversion Act and established Waste Diversion Ontario (both described later in this bulletin). The 3Rs Regulations apply to non-hazardous solid waste from residential, industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) sources.
Government operations fall under the institutional category. The regulations mandate waste audits, waste reduction work plans and source separation (recycling) programs.
The Ontario 3Rs Regulations consist of four regulations, made under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act (EPA). Two of the regulations apply to federal facilities (O. Reg. 102 and 103) and one applies to First Nations communities with populations of 5000 or more (O. Reg. 101):
In cases where no equivalent federal legislation exists, the Government of Canada's Code of Environmental Stewardship requires federal facilities to be compatible with provincial requirements. Since there is no specific federal regulation for federal facilities with respect to solid waste management, the goals and targets set by the Province of Ontario under the 3Rs Regulations (supported by the diversion programs generated under the Waste Diversion Act, 2002) will become targets and objectives for federal facility solid waste management programs in Ontario.
In the new Sustainable Development in Government Operations strategy the federal government committed:
Facilities and activities on federal lands that may be affected include individual buildings, large multi-building office complexes and multi-building operations such as airports, defense bases or research establishments. Multi-building complexes are only affected if the total floor space of all buildings on site used primarily as offices exceeds 10,000 m2.
Designated Ontario hospitals are covered under the 3Rs Regulations. Federal hospitals considered equivalent to a Class A, B, or F hospitals under Ontario Regulation 964 of the Ontario Public Hospital Act should consider voluntarily meeting the 3Rs requirements. See Table 1 for a list of major types of federal waste generators.
"Hospitals" are classified as general hospitals, convalescent hospitals, hospitals for chronic patients, active treatment teaching psychiatric hospitals, active treatment hospitals for alcoholism and drug addiction and regional rehabilitation hospitals. They are graded as one of the following:
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The Waste Audit and Waste Reduction Work Plan Regulation (O. Reg. 102/94) deals specifically with municipal waste as defined in the General Waste Management Amendment Regulations (O. Reg. 105/94). This includes all wastes except hazardous liquid industrial or gaseous wastes, but does include any solid fuels derived from those wastes.
The IC&I Source Separation Programs Regulation (O. Reg. 103/94) deals with specific wastes according to the type of facility. See Table 1 for a list of materials to be source separated by designated IC&I waste generators.
Step 1: Waste Audits and Waste Reduction Work Plans
Waste audits and waste reduction work plans are required for construction and demolition projects of sizes greater than 2000 m2 at the start of the project.
Step 2: Source Separation
Source separation (recycling) programs are required for all construction and demolition projects with total floor areas greater than 2000 m2. The source separation program must be in place and ready for use before the start of the project.
Step 1: Waste Audits and Waste Reduction Work Plans
Waste audits and waste reduction work plans (updated annually) are required for these facilities. Compliance rules in Ontario are as follows:
Note: Multi-unit residential buildings are exempt from conducting waste audits and waste reduction work plans.
Step 2: Source Separation
Source separation (recycling) programs are required for all of these facilities provided they are located in municipalities with populations over 5,000. Facilities coming into existence after March 3, 1995 must have a source separation program in place upon opening.
A waste audit is a study relating to waste management that results in a written report either on a Ministry of Environment (MOE) form, or in the same format as the MOE form. The form must be signed by an authority at the facility (such as a building manager or project manager) who certifies that the information contained in the report is complete and correct, and that the facility complies with all requirements of O. Reg. 102/94.
The waste audit must address the amount, nature and composition of waste, and the manner by which it is produced. The extent to which materials or products (used or sold) consist of recycled or reused material must also be addressed.
The waste audit must also assess management policies and decisions related to the production of waste, such as procurement policies and specifications for raw materials, supplies and equipment. The audit reviews the reasons for the policies, states how their modification can facilitate 3Rs actions, and assists the generator in identifying opportunities to introduce 3Rs activities.
If the designated waste generator is responsible for several establishments with similar activities, a single waste audit can be conducted at one site and the data can be extrapolated and applied to the other establishments.
The initial waste audit must be updated annually. However, construction and demolition projects must have a waste audit conducted even before the project begins. The results of all waste audits must be kept on file for five years.
An example of a waste audit summary sheet is presented in insert 1 (pdf).
A waste reduction work plan consists of an organized set of tasks developed in response to the information gathered during the waste audit. The waste reduction work plan must be prepared either on a MOE form or in the same format. The form must be signed by an authority at the facility who certifies that the information contained in the report is complete and correct, and that the facility complies with all requirements of O. Reg. 102/94.
The work plan must include:
Waste reduction work plans must follow the 3Rs hierarchy (reduction first, followed by reuse and then recycling).
The work plan must be updated annually, and include an evaluation of the previous year's plan. If past objectives have not been achieved, the reasons must be determined and reported in the annual work plan review.
As part of its implementation and ultimate success, the work plan must be communicated to employees or people who work at the facility. A summary of the plan must be visibly posted and accessible to all employees. The waste reduction work plan must also be kept on file for five years.
Facility owners must implement source separation programs for recyclable materials that are generated by the institution or facility.
Collection, handling and storage facilities must be provided for these materials. The generator must make reasonable efforts to ensure the program is in full use and that source separated materials are reused or recycled.
Users of the program must be provided with detailed instructions on how to source separate, which materials to collect and how to prepare the materials for collection.
The source separation program must also be communicated to employees. The communications component of the program must provide information to promote the program as well as solicit feedback on the amounts of materials diverted as a result of the program.
The Waste Diversion Act (WDA), which came into effect in 2002 promotes the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste and facilitates the development, implementation and operation of waste diversion programs. With the passing of the Act, a permanent non-government corporation was created - Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO). The purpose of this organization is to develop, implement and fund waste diversion programs within the province.
Within the WDA, the Minister may designate wastes for which the WDO will prepare a diversion "plan". The first MOE designated wastes are Blue Box Materials (packaging/printed paper - submitted for a 60 day public review on March, 2003). The goal of the Blue Box Waste Diversion Program (submitted by the WDO and Stewardship Ontario) is to increase the diversion of municipal blue box material from landfills. In accordance with the WDA, an Industry Funding Organization (IFO) has been established to set and collect fees from municipalities whose materials (glass, metal, paper, plastic, textiles or combination of those) are collected in the blue box. This blue box IFO is known as Stewardship Ontario. Other wastes that may be designated in the near future include tires and used oil.
Ministry of the Environment. Waste Diversion Act, 2002. Waste Diversion Program for Blue Box Waste/Designating Regulation for Stewardship Ontario. March 2003.
Ministry of the Environment. Waste Diversion Act, 2002. Regulation under the Waste Diversion Act, 2002 to prescribe certain material as used tires. March 2003.
Ministry of the Environment. Waste Diversion Act, 2002. Regulation under the Waste Diversion Act, 2002 to prescribe certain material as used oil. March 2003.
Ministry of the Environment. Waste Diversion Act, 2002. Blue Box Waste. (O. Reg. 273/02). 2002.
Government of Canada. Sustainable Development in Government Operations: A Coordinated Approach. June 2000.
Ministry of the Environment. Environmental Protection Act: Recycling and Composting of Municipal Waste (O. Reg. 101/94). The Ontario Gazette. March 1994.
Ministry of the Environment. Environmental Protection Act: Waste Audits and Waste Reduction Work Plans (O. Reg. 102/94). The Ontario Gazette. March 1994.
Ministry of the Environment. Environmental Protection Act: Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Source Separation Programs (O. Reg. 103/94). The Ontario Gazette. March 1994.
Ministry of the Environment. A Guide to Waste audits and Reduction Workplans for Construction and Demolition Projects. March 1994.
Ministry of the Environment. A Guide to Source Separation of Recyclable Materials for Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Sector and Multi-Unit Residential buildings. March 1994.
Ministry of the Environment. Waste Diversion Act, 2002.
Ontario Stewardship. WDO Public Consultation - Blue Box Waste Diversion Program Plan. February 2003.
Ministry of Environment Web Site: www.ene.gov.on.ca (follow links to either Land or Waste Diversion Act).
Ontario Stewarship Web Site: www.stewardshipontario.ca/main.asp
Recycling Council of Ontario: www.rco.on.ca/
Greening of Government Operations (Federal): www.greeninggovernment.gc.ca/
For further information, please contact: Environment Canada COMPROs can be found on the Internet at: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/epb/fpd (aussi disponible en français) |
| WASTE GENERATOR | MINIMUM SIZE | SOURCE SEPARATED MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|
| Large Demolition Projects | One or more buildings with a total floor area of at least 2,000 m2 | - Wood ( not including painted, treated or laminated wood) - Steel - Concrete - Brick |
| Large Construction Projects | One or more buildings with a total floor area of at least 2,000 m2 | - Corrugated cardboard - Wood (not including painted, treated or laminated wood) - Drywall (unpainted) - Steel - Concrete - Brick |
| Office Buildings | At least 10,000 m2 of floor area designated for office use | - Corrugated cardboard - Fine paper and newsprint - Aluminum and steel cans (including cans made primarily from steel or aluminum) - Glass bottles and jars for food or beverages |
| Hospitals | Public hospitals classified as Class A, B, or F in Regulation 964 (Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990) | - Corrugated cardboard - Fine paper and newsprint - Aluminum and steel cans (including cans made primarily from steel or aluminum) - Glass bottles and jars for food or beverages |
| Educational Institutions | More than 350 students enrolled at any time during the calendar year at a location or campus | - Corrugated cardboard - Fine paper and newsprint - Aluminum and steel cans (including cans made primarily from steel or aluminum) - Glass bottles and jars for food or beverages |
| Multi-unit Residential Buildings | Six or more dwelling units | - Newsprint - Aluminum and steel cans (including cans made primarily from steel or aluminum) - PET and glass bottles - Jars for food or beverages - Other materials collected by blue box |
| part of Environment Canada's Green LaneTM | |
| Webmaster Last Updated: 2003-08-11 Last Reviewed: 2003-08-11 |
Important Notices and Disclaimers URL: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/epb/fpd/cpb/3009-e.html |
