1) Clarification on Designated materials

In consultation with Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), OES continues to communicate monthly the most recent items identified in the Clarification of EEE Materials/Products Obligated Under OES Program. The intent is to ensure consistency in the definition and descriptions of obligated products as much as possible, across programs throughout the provinces. 

In cases where EPSC has provided guidance on EEE materials/products that could meet more than one obligated material category definition, OES has taken these under advisement and assigned any such product to a category within this program.

Starting November 24, 2011, clarifications on designated materials will be communicated through the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA). This change will help to ensure that the clarifications from the provincial programs (ACES, ESABC, OES and SWEEP) are consistent and reduce duplicative communications for those stewards who participate in multiple programs.

Have you used the new Electronics Photo Gallery?

We have incorporated each of these products into the new OES’ Electronics Photo Gallery. This is OES’ approach to explaining where new (and existing) products fit within the context of the material categories (definitions) as established in the RULES. Whereas previous versions of the Rules provided examples of “inclusions and exclusions,” this new approach provides the flexibility to find out if the products (or similar items) that are of greatest interest to you are included in this program.

Recent clarifications: obligated and not obligated

Table 1.0 identifies items that have been clarified over the past month and that are obligated under the OES program. Table 2.0 identifies other items, which have also been clarified, but are not obligated. Complete lists of all clarifications to date are posted on the OES website in: Clarification of EEE Materials/Products Obligated Under OES Program. Please note that the electronics photo gallery also contains these clarifications.

Table 1.0 - Obligated EEE Materials

Please review the “notes” below this table for additional information.

9. This item is not portable when accompanied by a subwoofer and cannot be powered by a battery or directly from a computer. Speakers without subwoofers are considered portable and are designated to be in the image, audio, video device - personal portable.
10. This product is obligated under the OES Program.
11. The USB stick/hub is not obligated. Only the speakers are obligated within the cooling station. This is a bundled product where each obligated item will be reported separately for a total of $0.20.
12. This product is a docking station with speakers for MP3 players and smartphones. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a 72 inch solar panel. It also includes an AC adapter
13. The headphones within the kit are not obligated under the OES Program
14. The current product definition for desktop computers includes “desktop computers acting as servers”. These products would be recycled similarly to a desktop computer and are therefore obligated.
15. Included in the personal/portable A/V category because this is an alarm clock radio that is also a lamp. Please note that the CESA has been consulted to ensure their lighting program is not also charging fees.

Table 2.0 –Non-Obligated EEE Materials:

Please review the “notes” below this table for additional information.

1. Embedded controllers are specialized/commercial grade units designed for custom purposes and do not function as desktop servers.
2. This item is considered a set-top-box and because it is a satellite, cable, and/or digital transmitter and receiver it is not obligated.
3. This item is considered a graphic tablet which is a device that digitally captures and stores everything that is written or drawn. The content can be transferred to a computer device. It is not obligated.
4. Smart Pens are products that allow you to write on paper and have your writing display on a tablet or smartphone device. This product uses a wireless receiver that automatically digitizes written notes. This device could be considered a manual input pointing device designed for use with a portable computer.
5. This product is a wireless transmitter and receiver that sends high definition video and audio signal from up to four devices wirelessly to an HDTV.
6. Industrial scanners and printers are not obligated under the program.
7. This product is intended to be used as a professional digital audio controlling device and is not obligated under the program.

2) REMINDER: REPORTS AND PAYMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2011 DUE OCTOBER 30, 2011

New Fees Apply To OES Reports Filed by October 30, 2011

All reports and payments for September 2011 are due on October 30, 2011. The new program Rules and Steward fees that came into effect on August 1, 2011 apply to these reports and all others that will be filed for the obligations months up to and including July 31, 2012. The new fees are calculated in the online reporting system.

As you may have noticed, the Rules for this period no longer include ‘inclusions and exclusions.’ We have moved this information to a searchable, visual description available on our website (see “Electronics Photo Gallery” in the green “program” section). The Rules only contain the material definitions. If you have not yet done so, please take time to ensure that your staff and all organizations in your information technology/consumer electronics supply chain are aware of the changes and that your systems have been adjusted to reflect the correct fees.

3) HOW TO FILE AN OES REPORT AND REMIT PAYMENT TO OES

Filing your OES Report

For information on how to file your OES Report, please see Guidebook 2: How to file an OES Report

How to Remit Payment to OES

OES provides information for Stewards, Remitters and Sub-Remitters to download their invoices from a confidential web-based system. No invoices are distributed by mail/email. To obtain an invoice, your company's primary contact or billing contact should follow the step for "Invoicing and Reports" on the Steward Reporting System.

Payment Options

Stewards/Remitters can make payments by cheque, online banking or through wire transfer at their bank. Please include HST in your submission of payment to OES.

1. Cheques: payable to “Ontario Electronic Stewardship”, and sent to 26 Wellington St. East, Suite 601 Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1S2.
2. Wire Transfer: for details, email: oesaccounting@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca.
3. Online Banking: contact your bank and request that Ontario Electronic Stewardship be added to your account. Online payments can be made through the following banking institutions: CIBC, BMO, Royal Bank, Bank of Nova Scotia, TD Canada Trust.

4) OES MOBILE TOUR SURPASSES GOALS

Through the spring, summer and fall, our mobile event teams visited fairs, festivals, pow wows, concerts, and sporting events from Wawa to Walkerton to: heighten awareness of our program, and educate communities on how they can safely, easily and securely reuse and recycle end-of-life electronics. We also offered unique and engaging collection support in underserviced, remote and rural locations promoting the message, “Drive Up, Drop Off, Do Good”.

While the primarily goal of the tour was promotion and education, we also set a collection goal of 200 tonnes for specific remote and underserviced communities, and we well surpassed it!  Not only that, we set a goal of 1.5 million “touches”, or event attendees being exposed to our work. In fact, we touched over 2.1 million people across the province; leaving them with a new awareness of the many opportunities available to them to responsibly manage their unwanted electronics.

Ultimately, we also expanded our footprint into remote areas, as many of the same communities we visited wanted to become part of our program; with an invitation to come to Moose Factory on an ice road for a pick up!

We invite you to take a stroll with us down memory lane — tour.recycleyourelectronics.ca — to see the wonderful pictures and videos captured in this incredible 2011 mobile tour / community service journey.

But it doesn’t stop there… over the coming weeks and months, our OES mobile team will continue promotion and education outreach at parades, outdoor festivals and trade shows. If you’re in the neighbourhood, we also hope you’ll drop by. Check out “Our Events” on recycleyourelectronics.ca.

5) Brochures for Retail Staff and Customers

A reminder as we approach the season for buying electronics, that OES brochures that are available:

1. for retailers to educate staff about the program, and;
2. for retailers to distribute to consumers who may inquire about environmental handling fees. If you do not already have a supply on hand, please stock up.

Click here to access our online order form.

For assistance to obtain the brochures, email:
marketing@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca.

For more information, contact info@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca.