WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia implemented an Enviro Levy on the purchase of new tires and lead acid batteries in the mid 1990s to assist local governments in the cost of recycling and transportation; AND WHEREAS upon implementation of the Enviro Levy, the Provinces commitment was to redirect all taxes collected back to local governments in order to assist in recycling and transportation costs; AND WHEREAS consumers are currently paying 3 per tire and 5 per lead acid battery as well as an additional cost for disposal of used lead acid batteries and tires: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM lobby the provincial government to ensure that 100 of the Enviro Levy be directed back to local governments, as per the Provinces original commitment, to assist in recycling and transportation costs.
Ministry of Environment In 1990 the Government of British Columbia Government amended the Social Services Tax Act to introduce a 3 per tire levy on new tire sales and a 5 per battery levy on new battery sales. The levy revenue is deposited into the Sustainable Environment Fund SEF and used to fund the Financial Incentives for Recycling Scrap Tires Program and the BC Lead Acid Battery Collection program as well as other environmental protection programs such as product stewardship, contaminated sites, waste discharge and hazardous waste management. The tire and battery programs currently divert approximately 95 of the used tires and batteries from municipal landfill disposal. The Governments policy is to move the government-led recycling programs to industry and make producers and consumers responsible for the cost of industry product stewardship programs not general taxpayers or local government.