NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR REGULATION 85/12

NLR 59/03 as amended

1. The Waste Management Regulations, 2003 are amended by adding immediately after section 31.17 the following:

PART V
ELECTRONIC WASTE

Definitions

31.18 In this Part

(a) "agent" means a corporation appointed by a brand owner to act as an agent of behalf of the brand owner;

(b) "brand owner", with respect to an electronic product sold, offered for sale or otherwise distributed in or into the province, means

(i) a manufacturer of an electronic product,

(ii) a distributor of an electronic product in or into the province,

(iii) an owner or licensee of the intellectual property rights to an electronic product, or

(iv) where an electronic product is imported into the province, the first person to sell the electronic product in the province;

(i) a business,

(ii) a not-for-profit organization,

(iii) a school, and

(iv) a department of the government of the province;

(d) "dispose", with respect to electronic waste, means the final disposition of unwanted electronic material in a facility approved by the minister after the steps referred to subsection 31.33(1) have been pursued;

(e) "e-waste" means an electronic product that is no longer used or required by a consumer;

(f) "electronic product" means an electronic product whether intended for consumer, industrial or commercial use, and includes

(i) a television,

(ii) a desktop, laptop and notebook computer, including a central processing unit, keyboard, mouse and associated cables,

(iii) a computer monitor,

(iv) a computer desktop printer, including a desktop printer that has scanning or fax capabilities, or both,

(v) a desktop scanner,

(vi) an audio and video playback and recording system,

(vii) a telephone or fax machine,

(viii) a cell phone and other wireless communication device but does not include a factory-installed communication device developed for embedded use in motor vehicles, and

(ix) those other electronic products designated by the board;

(g) "electronic product stewardship program" means a program that

(i) establishes a process for the collection, transportation, recycling and, where no further options exist, disposal of any residual components of e-waste, and

(ii) incorporates the principles of extended producer responsibility;

(h) "recover", with respect to an electronic product, means a method of processing that product so that it may be converted into transferable energy;

(i) "recycle", with respect to e-waste, means to process it into a useable electronic product;

(j) "reduce" means to reduce the negative environmental impacts of an electronic product;

(k) "retailer" means a person who sells or offers for sale electronic products in the province to a consumer;

(l) "return collection facility" means a place operated by or on behalf of a brand owner for the collection of e-waste;

(m) "return collection method" includes

(i) a mail or ship back return program,

(ii) agreements with local governments or regulatory authorities which have agreed to provide facilities for the collection of e-waste,

(iii) collection events,

(iv) any combination of the return collection methods referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (iii) which effectively provides for the acceptance of e-waste through means that are available to and reasonably convenient for consumers; and

(n) "reuse", with respect to e-waste, means to process that e-waste so that it is capable of being used by a consumer as an electronic product.

Registration required

31.19 (1) A brand owner shall apply to the board for registration as a brand owner.

(2) A brand owner shall submit an electronic product stewardship plan with its application for registration for the approval of the board.

(3) Where the board has received

(a) an application for registration by the brand owner; and

(b) an electronic product stewardship plan as required under section 31.23 which is satisfactory to the board,

the board shall register a brand owner and may prescribe terms and conditions in the registration.

Restriction on supply of electronic products

31.20 (1) A brand owner shall not sell, offer for sale or distribute electronic products to a person in the province unless the brand owner holds a valid registration under these regulations.

(2) A retailer or wholesaler shall not sell, offer for sale or otherwise distribute an electronic product in or into the province unless the brand owner from whom the product was acquired holds a valid registration under these regulations.

Appointment of an agent

31.21 (1) A brand owner may appoint an agent to carry out its duties under these regulations.

(2) An agent may, on behalf of a brand owner, register with the board under these regulations as if the agent were the brand owner, and a registered agent shall comply with the requirements of these regulations as if the agent were the brand owner.

(3) An agent may act on behalf of one or more brand owners.

(4) Before the agent begins to carry out the duties of a brand owner, the brand owner shall notify the board in writing that it has appointed an agent and specify the duties that the agent will perform on behalf of the brand owner.

(5) An agent shall

(a) before that agent begins to carry out duties on behalf of a brand owner, confirm in writing to the board the duties under these regulations that the agent will perform on behalf of the brand owner; and

(b) carry out the duties the agent has undertaken to perform.

Transitional registration requirements

31.22 (1) A brand owner who is selling, offering for sale or distributing electronic products within the province immediately before the coming into force of this Part shall submit an application to the board for registration within 120 days of the coming into force of this Part.

(2) The board may refuse to register or may suspend the registration of a brand owner if the brand owner does not submit an electronic product stewardship plan within the period of time specified under subsection (1).

(3) Notwithstanding section 31.19, a brand owner referred to in subsection (1) may continue selling, offering for sale or distributing electronic products within the province until the board renders a decision with respect to the brand owner's application for registration.

(4) Where the board denies the application of a brand owner under this section, that brand owner shall, when it receives written notice that the board has denied its application, immediately cease selling, offering for sale or distributing electronic products.

Contents of electronic products stewardship plan

31.23 An electronic product stewardship plan shall provide for the following:

(a) the collection of e-waste in the province, including the collection of the e-waste of other brand owners through an electronic stewardship program;

(b) the management of e-waste in adherence with the following, in order of preference:

(i) reuse,

(ii) recycle,

(iii) recover, and

(iv) dispose;

(c) the brand owner's expected performance target and timelines for both the recovery amounts of e-waste and the reuse or recycling rates of the collected e-waste;

(d) the brand owner's plan for achieving at least that performance target;

(e) a description of the planned activities which will be undertaken to influence the redesign of electronic products to improve reusability, recycleability and to reduce e-waste;

(f) a description of the efforts made by the brand owner to maximize the local economic benefits created through the implementation of the electronic product stewardship plan;

(g) a communications plan for informing consumers of the brand owner's electronic product stewardship plan which includes

(i) a description of products accepted at return collection facilities,

(ii) the location of all return collection facilities,

(iii) how and when consumers can access return collection facilities,

(iv) the environmental benefits of participating in the electronic product stewardship program, and

(v) the types and frequency of media to be used in the promotion of the electronic product stewardship program;

(h) the establishment of return collection facilities or other return collection methods that will ensure reasonable and free consumer access for the return of e-waste;

(i) ongoing consultations about the electronic stewardship program with persons who the brand owner believes the environmental stewardship program may affect, including members of the public, in accordance with the guidelines established by the board;

(j) a listing of all brand owners covered under a stewardship plan in the form prescribed by the board;

(k) brand owner qualification standards and information demonstrating how electronic products and e-waste collected will be managed in a manner that employs environmental and human health and safety standards meeting or exceeding applicable federal, provincial and municipal regulations;

(l) a description of how a brand owner will manage costs associated with the implementation and operation of an electronic stewardship plan;

(m) where a brand owner charges a separate fee with respect to the costs of implementing and operating an electronic stewardship plan, a description of how that fee will be collected and used;

(n) the assessment of the performance of the brand owner's plan by an independent auditor; and

(o) the elimination or reduction of the environmental impacts of electronic products and e-waste.

Approval or imposition of plan

31.24 (1) Where an electronic product stewardship plan has been submitted to the board, the board shall, as soon as practicable

(a) approve the plan for a period of not more than 5 years;

(b) request any additional information that the board considers necessary to assess the plan;

(c) require the brand owner to carry out a consultation in accordance with guidelines which may be established by the board; or

(d) reject the plan with written reasons.

(2) Where a brand owner has been required to carry out consultations under paragraph (1)(c), the brand owner shall, within a period of time set by the board, submit a revised electronic stewardship plan which includes any changes resulting from feedback received in the consultation process.

(3) Where a revised electronic stewardship plan has been submitted to the board under subsection (2), the board shall, as soon as practicable,

(a) approve the plan for a period of not more than 5 years;

(b) request any additional information that the board considers necessary to assess the plan; or

(4) Where the board rejects an electronic product stewardship plan, it may

(a) require the brand owner to comply with an electronic product stewardship plan prepared and approved by the board;

(b) require the brand owner to comply with an electronic product stewardship plan prepared by an agent and approved by the board; or

(c) require the brand owner to submit a revised electronic product stewardship plan within the period of time specified by the board.

(5) A plan approved by the board expires on the date set by the board, but the period of time for which the plan may be effective shall not exceed 5 years.

(6) Where the board rejects an electronic product stewardship plan submitted by a brand owner and the brand owner does not submit a revised electronic product stewardship plan as required under paragraph (4)(c), the board shall refuse to register the brand owner or shall suspend or cancel the registration of the brand owner.

(7) Where a brand owner does not submit an electronic product stewardship plan within the 120 day period referred to in section 31.22 as required, the board may impose an electronic product stewardship plan on the brand owner and the brand owner shall comply with that plan.

Amendment by board

31.25 (1) The board may amend an approved or imposed electronic product stewardship plan

(a) to correct a clerical error;

(b) to reflect a change in the name or address of a brand owner;

(d) as the board considers appropriate, whether the plan has previously been approved or imposed by the board.

(2) A brand owner may apply to have its electronic product stewardship plan amended and sections 31.24 and 31.26 apply with the necessary modifications to the application.

Compliance required

31.26 (1) A brand owner shall implement the electronic product stewardship plan as approved or imposed by the board under section 31.24 and shall comply with that plan within 120 days of the approval or imposition of the plan.

(2) A brand owner shall comply with the electronic stewardship plan as amended by the board under section 31.25.

(3) Where a brand owner fails to comply with an electronic stewardship plan referred to in subsection (1) or (2) the board may

(a) direct the brand owner to comply with the electronic stewardship plan; or

(b) suspend, cancel or revoke the registration of that brand owner.

(4) A brand owner who fails to comply with the electronic product stewardship plan as approved, imposed or amended commits an offence.

Renewal of electronic product stewardship plan

31.27 (1) At least 90 days before the expiry date of an electronic product stewardship plan approved or imposed by the board, a brand owner shall submit an electronic product stewardship plan to the board for review and approval.

(2) Sections 31.24 and 31.26 apply with the necessary modifications to a plan submitted under this section.

Annual report and other information

31.28 (1) A brand owner shall, 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, provide the board with an annual report detailing the effectiveness of the brand owner's electronic product stewardship plan during the previous calendar year which includes the following:

(a) the total amount of e-waste collected in the province by electronic product type;

(b) the total amount of e-waste processed and in storage;

(d) a description of the types of processes utilized to reuse, recycle, contain, or otherwise treat or dispose of e-waste;

(e) a description of efforts to redesign electronic products to improve reusability and recycleability and to reduce e-waste;

(f) the location of all return collection facilities and a description of other return collection methods used;

(g) the types and frequency of media used in the promotion of the electronic product stewardship program;

(h) annual financial statements prepared by an independent auditor in a form and manner acceptable to the board indicating the revenues received and the expenditures incurred by the electronic product stewardship plan;

(i) records showing that the plan adheres to established brand owner qualification standards or information demonstrating that the electronic products and e-waste collected were managed in a manner that employs environmental and human health and safety standards meeting or exceeding applicable federal, provincial and municipal regulations;

(j) an assessment of the performance of the brand owner's plan prepared in partnership with the board; and

(k) other information requested by the board that relates to the electronic product stewardship plan.

(2) When a brand owner submits its annual report, it shall at the same time provide to the board a statement in writing as to the total amount of electronic product sold by it during the previous calendar year by electronic product type.

(3) The information provided to the board by the brand owner under subsection (2) shall be treated as confidential.

Consumer information

31.29 A brand owner shall provide to each retailer of its electronic product, educational and consumer material about the brand owner's electronic product stewardship plan.

Fees

31.30 (1) The board may charge a brand owner those fees that are established by the board to cover the board's annual administrative costs in carrying out its duties under the Act and this Part in relation to electronic waste.

(2) The annual administrative costs include office, operational, marketing and inspection expenses and the cost of salaries, benefits and expenses of members and employees of the board that are attributable to the board's duties referred to in subsection (1).

(3) The annual administrative costs of the board incurred or to be incurred by it in relation to the administration of this Part, together with a sum needed to make up a deficiency in the assessment for the preceding year, if required, shall be borne equally by each brand owner.

(4) The board shall assess up to one half of the amount determined under subsection (1) before April 2 of the fiscal year in which the costs are incurred, and assess the remaining amount after December 1 of that fiscal year.

Remittance of fees, imposition of interest

31.31 (1) A brand owner shall remit fees referred to in section 31.30 at the times and in the manner directed by the board.

(2) If the board is satisfied that a brand owner has not remitted fees fully in accordance with subsection (1), the board may serve written notice on the brand owner requiring payment of the following amounts:

(a) the full amount of the fees that are outstanding;

(b) interest on the amount of the outstanding fees calculated monthly at a rate not exceeding 2% a month; and

(c) an administrative fee in an amount established by the board, which shall not exceed the amount of the outstanding fees.

(3) A written notice under subsection (2) shall include the time and manner in which the payments required under that subsection are to be made.

(4) A brand owner served with a written notice under subsection (2) shall pay the amounts set out in the notice in accordance with the notice.

(5) All fees and interest that are not paid to the board in accordance with a written notice constitute a debt due to the board.

(6) The board may, under the signature of the proper officer, issue a certificate setting out the name of a brand owner who has not paid fees or interest in accordance with a written notice and certifying the total amounts of the fees or interest remaining unpaid and the certificate, without proof of the appointment, authority or signature of the person purporting to have signed it, is admissible in evidence and is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the amount of the fees or interest remaining unpaid.

Use of fees and interest

31.32 The board shall use the fees and interest remitted to it or paid to it under this Part solely to carry out its duties under the Act and this Part in relation to electronic waste and for no other purpose.

Management and disposal of e-waste

31.33 (1) A person shall manage e-waste in adherence with the following, in order of preference:

(a) reuse;

(b) recycle;

(d) dispose.

(2) A person shall not dispose of e-waste in the province unless that disposal is made

(a) to a return collection facility or through a return collection method;

(b) in an area which is a waste material disposal site established under the Act and approved for that purpose by the minister; or