WHEREAS batteries are identified as Household Hazardous Waste by British Columbias Environment Act, as they contain heavy metals that can leach out into the receiving environment; AND WHEREAS Environment Canada estimates that by 2010, if the current rate of recycling is not increased, landfills in Canada will hold over 495 million used batteries potentially contaminating groundwater through landfill leachate: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the provincial government to implement an accessible and convenient means for the public to recycle batteries.
Ministry of Environment The Province of British Columbia regulates industry-led product stewardship under the Recycling Regulation 2004, which makes producers responsible for the lifecycle management of their products. The Ministry of Environment has a service plan commitment to add two new product categories to the Regulation every three years. The Ministry notified stakeholders of a list of the next possible products in the summer of 2007. In April 2008, government announced its intention to amend the Recycling Regulation in the autumn of 2008 to include mercury-containing light bulbs and thermostats, and expand the existing electronics product category, which currently includes televisions, computers, monitors and desktop printers. The expansion of this category would mean adding electrical equipment, which would include batteries that are used in electronic and small householdconsumer electrical equipment. It would also include mercury-containing light bulbs as peripherals for lighting equipment. Producers of batteries and mercury containing products have expressed their support for the initiative and consultations with affected stakeholders have been underway since spring 2008. We anticipate roll-out of a province-wide recycling system for batteries and mercury containing light bulbs in late 2009.