Thank you!
On behalf of Recycle BC, MMSW, MMSM, Stewardship Ontario and AMS, CSSA acknowledges and appreciates the efforts made by stewards and collection partners to help keep their customers and colleagues healthy during the COVID-19 situation. CSSA staff is working remotely and the National Steward Services team is available to assist:
1-888-980-9549 or stewards@cssalliance.ca .
Reporting deadline extension
Stewards are reminded that reports of PPP data may be submitted via the WeRecycle Portal up to July 31, 2020 , rather than the regular May 31 deadline. The change was announced in early April to help businesses with their Packaging and Paper Product (PPP) obligations during this difficult time. Also, stewards unable to collect 2019 data have the option to reuse their 2018 data for the report, subject to conditions and details . A range of Reporting Resources is available to guide stewards in collecting and reporting material data. Thanks to all stewards who have submitted reports and those who can do so before the deadline.
Penalty and interest grace period
Also announced in early April in recognition of the disruption and financial hardship many organizations are experiencing, a temporary change has been made to the application of interest for late payment of invoices for all programs. To assist those stewards who are unable to meet outstanding and pending payment deadlines, the grace period for the application of interest is being extended to 90 days (from 30 days in the Penalty and Interest Policy). As always, the programs remain grateful to those stewards who are able to pay their invoices within 30 days. More information is available here .
Annual Steward Meeting - save the date
The 2020 Annual Steward Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 , at 1 pm ET. The meeting will be a webinar event again this year. Invitations and details will be distributed in late summer.
MCD consultations update
As a result of business disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Material Cost Differentiation (MCD) project is working to reschedule the consultation phase that had been tentatively set for April. In early June, the MCD Steering Committee will consider the new consultation timeline and then update stewards and other stakeholders. Further information and background on MCD is available here .
GFL is new post-collection partner
On May 19, Recycle BC launched its new post-collection network , operated by GFL Environmental Inc. (which acquired Canada Fibers Ltd in 2019). GFL will oversee the transportation, processing, marketing and reporting of materials collected across British Columbia. GFL developed a sophisticated 35-facility network that provides successful end-of-life management of materials and a partnership focused on improved environmental outcomes and value for our program. GFL’s advanced technology and processing capabilities means more material will be recycled locally in BC and North America. Recycle BC thanks Green by Nature EPR for their post-collection work over the last six years. 
Recycling Home Tour
Recycle BC is using social media to encourage British Columbians to use their time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to become better recyclers. The Recycling Home Tour takes residents room-by-room and item-by-item, to help them identify the residential packaging and paper people are least likely to recycle. The Tour is informed by a survey of 1,000 residents about their recycling habits.
Reducing contamination
MMSW has created template ads to assist collectors in communicating to Saskatchewan residents the importance of taking extra precautions in sorting their recyclables during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to a rise in contamination of items such as used diapers, wipes, masks, gloves, food waste and aerosol containers, the ads remind residents these items are not only contaminants but also pose a risk to the health and safety of workers and do not belong in their recycling containers.   
Municipal updates
During the past few months, the program has been actively engaged with municipal partners on a number of fronts:
  • The 2019 Cost Monitoring Survey process recently wrapped up and MMSM is analyzing the data.
  • Five communities participated in the now-completed Winter Road Project that collected bags of beverage containers for recycling.
  • In March, staff participated in an Aboriginal Cultural Awareness and Engagement workshop and completed an Indigenous Cultural Empowerment course to further support our First Nations partners.
Recyclepedia launched
MMSM’s recently launched Recyclepedia web tool helps Manitobans determine what’s accepted in their recycling bins and will also support reduced contamination. Recyclepedia offers helpful suggestions to recycling questions in 13 different languages. Future upgrades will include a mobile app and a multi-community option for municipal and other partners.
Follow MMSM on LinkedIn
For regular program updates, follow MMSM on LinkedIn .
Blue Box Transition Plan webinars June 16 & 17
The Blue Box Program Transition Plan consultation webinars that were postponed due to the evolving COVID-19 situation have been rescheduled to June 16 and 17, 2020. Please visit the Blue Box Transition Plan webpage for more information and to register. Per the  Minister’s extension  letter, the Transition Plan is to be submitted to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) by August 31, 2020. The Minister anticipates RPRA will approve the plan no later than December 31, 2020.
MHSW surplus fund consultations
Thank you to those who participated and submitted feedback on Stewardship Ontario’s surplus fund amendment proposals to the MHSW Wind Up Plan . As per Ministerial direction received in April, the amendments will be submitted to RPRA by the June 5, 2020 deadline. RPRA will be consulting on the amendments via webinar on June 10, 2020. More information on RPRA's consultation can be found here . The Minister expects RPRA will approve the amendments no later than June 25, 2020.
2020 Blue Box funding obligation
RPRA has set an interim 2020 Blue Box Steward funding obligation at $135.2 million, a 7% increase from the 2019 obligation. The steward funding obligation is the total amount that Ontario stewards must pay to municipalities for operating the Blue Box Program and is the most significant driver of steward fees. More information is available here .
Director opportunity
AMS is seeking a qualified Director to join its Board. Candidates must be employed by a company that is a member in good standing of the program. A profile of the qualities and criteria that AMS is seeking for this voluntary position is available here and expressions of interest should be sent by June 12.
AMS position on MHSW surplus
The AMS Board expressed its support for key process outcomes during Stewardship Ontario’s consultation on MHSW surplus fund amendments. AMS accepts covering its portion of all reasonable wind up costs from the surplus and believes all current members should receive their entire fair share of material reserve amounts. AMS also believes these objectives should be delivered as quickly as possible and will continue to advocate for members’ interests as the wind up proceeds.
Program performance outlook
With fewer vehicles on the road due to COVID-19, AMS anticipates that the tonnes of automotive material collected in 2020 will be less than 2019. Along with vehicles requiring less maintenance, some AMS service providers have reduced operations to protect the health of their employees. In some cases, municipal collection events have been cancelled and municipal depot access reduced. AMS will continue to monitor the supply chain and work with service providers to support the safe handling of materials.