WeRecycle Portal upgraded for 2020
A technology upgrade to the WeRecycle Portal will make the proven, secure reporting platform better and easier to use beginning January 1, 2020. While updating the system to extend its value, we have listened to your suggestions to make improvements. Stewards and service providers will provide the same data as previously in a more modern interface, assisted by intuitive navigation and enhanced on-screen guidance. More information about the Portal, including a brief video and a January 8 webinar, is available here . 
Holiday hours
Season’s greetings from all of us! Thank you for your continued partnership and support during 2019. We all wish you a safe and prosperous New Year. Please be advised that offices will close at 1 p.m. regional time on December 24 and December 31, and will be closed for the statutory holidays. Regular office hours will be maintained for the rest of the holiday period.
2019 Annual Steward Meeting recap
Thank you to all stewards and stakeholders who attended the October 24 webcast to learn about 2020 budgets, fees and program updates. ASM materials – including the Report to Stewards, presentation and Q&A – can be found here .
Ready to Report webinars and resources
The annual reporting webinars for 2020 are scheduled for Tuesday, February 25 (new stewards and individuals new to the reporting role) and Wednesday, February 26 (all interested stewards). Invitations will be sent in late January along with the launch of 2020 Reporting Resources page on the CSSA website. A reminder that 2020 reports based on 2019 data need to be submitted by May 31.
2020 invoices and online payments
PPP stewards will receive their 2020 invoices based on 2019 reports in the first week of January. Annual and quarterly invoice options can be selected on the WeRecycle Portal. Invoice amounts up to $5,000 can be paid online by credit card. Any questions about invoices can be directed to accounting@cssalliance.ca or 1-855-354-2772 ext. 117 or 145.
CSSA's progress on plastic commitments
Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance is a proud endorser of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment’s common vision of a circular economy for plastics, where plastics never become waste. In October, the Global Commitment released its first progress report. Click here to view the report which includes CSSA’s progress on its commitments.  
MCD consultations
The Material Cost Differentiation project team and Steering Committee members are finalizing the materials for upcoming consultations. January meetings with the Steward Consultation Committee will include a half-day workshop to review the project outcomes and determine how best to engage with the steward community. Further information and background on MCD is available here .
Recycling recovery target survey
Recycle BC has added material-specific recovery rates to program commitments along with an overall recovery target, as per the Program Plan. In early December, Recycle BC conducted a resident survey to better understand which accepted materials are not being set out at the curb or dropped off at a depot for collection, and why. The survey results will help Recycle BC recognize present barriers and future opportunities for recovery targets. 
Holiday packaging campaign
Recycle BC’s holiday packaging campaign launched in early December with display ads and social media posts directing residents to RecycleBC.ca/Seasonal-Packaging . The campaign builds on previous holiday campaigns by highlighting recycling of common holiday-related packaging and paper materials.
New Recycle BC post-collection partner
Recycle BC is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Canada Fibers Ltd. for the receipt, transportation, processing, marketing and reporting of the materials it collects. With this new agreement, Recycle BC will further improve its environmental performance, building upon the first five years of making British Columbia a leader in the recycling of residential packaging and paper.
Cost study update
To better reflect Saskatchewan supply-chain expenses, MMSW is conducting a second cost study to continue the process of updating the collector payment model implemented in 2019. The cost study and a new composition study will wrap up in early 2020, after which work will begin with the Advisory Committee on a second look at the payment model and rate adjustment. This initiative will inform changes to the payment model for the 2021 program budget.
Ad campaign encourages proper recycling
MMSW launched an educational campaign in the fall to remind residents about the importance of proper recycling to reduce contamination. The campaign appeared as billboard, digital and radio ads across the province. Ad templates were made available for municipalities to customize and use for their own purposes. 
2020 fee rates approved
The MMSM Board of Directors approved the 2020 fees on November 28, 2019. Fee rates were circulated in the Report to Stewards prior to the Annual Steward Meeting in October. 
Aluminum studies
The recent Annual Steward Meeting and Report to Stewards highlighted how declining commodity prices are negatively affecting PPP program budgets, including MMSM. Reduced commodity revenue is a major driver of increased fee rates for 2020. In addition to this factor, MMSM stewards will have noted a reduction in the credit fee rate associated with Aluminum Food & Beverage Cans from 38.07 cents/kg in 2019 to 7.32 cents/kg in 2020. Studies completed by MMSM in 2018 and 2019 to better understand the types of aluminum in the system indicated that non-obligated aluminum beer cans were managed in the system. In response, MMSM excluded the non-obligated materials when calculating Aluminum’s share of the commodity revenue. When combined with lower overall commodity revenue, the impact to Aluminum was particularly high.
Working with municipalities
MMSM staff attended several recent events to promote recycling in the province, including the 2019 Manitoba Association of Regional Recyclers (MARR) Forum and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Convention and Tradeshow. A new communications toolkit has been developed for Manitoba municipalities to help inform their residents about better recycling, with the goal of increasing overall recovery rates and reducing contamination. 
Bag up Manitoba meets the challenge
The 2019 Bag up Manitoba Plastic Bag Challenge has wrapped up another successful year. Students from 168 schools collected a staggering 1.2 million plastic bags during October. The bags were recycled in Manitoba and used to create benches for six schools. A program of Take Pride Winnipeg! Inc., MMSM has partnered on this important initiative for the past 10 years, keeping more than 11 million plastic bags out of landfills.
MHSW Wind Up Plan approval pending
The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) is expected to approve Stewardship Ontario’s MHSW Wind Up Plan by December 31, 2019. An appendix to the Wind Up Plan and the 2020 Rules for MHSW Stewards will be addressed in the approval. Stewardship Ontario will notify stakeholders as soon as the plan and Rules have been approved and are posted on its website. Background information on the development of the MHSW Wind Up Plan can be found here . 
Development of the Blue Box Wind Up Plan
Initiated by a direction letter from the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Stewardship Ontario is required to submit a Blue Box Program Wind Up Plan to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) by June 30, 2020. Stewardship Ontario’s consultation details will be communicated in early 2020. More information on the development of the Blue Box Program Wind Up Plan can be found here . 
Promotion and education
Stewardship Ontario's promotion and education initiatives have generated over 26 million impressions so far in 2019. Prior to the annual holiday campaign in market now, below are the promotion and education initiatives Stewardship Ontario conducted this year:

  • The Blue Box program ran an ad campaign reminding residents how to avoid contaminating clean recyclables in their bin.
  • Orange Drop ran a digital propane cylinder awareness campaign and continued its partnership with Ontario Parks.
  • Orange Drop and Automotive Materials Stewardship ran a general awareness campaign and a series of social media contests, focusing on raising awareness of the five hazardous waste materials in the programs.

Templates of each campaign are available for municipalities to download and customize for their own promotion and education initiatives.
Agreement, policy and guide updates
There have been minor updates to the AMS Membership Agreement , Adjustment Policy and Dispute Resolution Policy to reflect the MHSW Wind Up Plan. An updated version of the Guide for AMS Members will be available in January. The Guide includes screenshots from the upgraded WeRecycle Portal, along with general program and reporting information. A reminder that Q1 reports of Q4 sales quantities are due by January 31.