Along with the HST coming into effect in July 1st, more Eco fees came into effect covering a wide range of products. The Eco fees are supposed to be fees charged to manufactures based on the amount of products or packaging they put into the market place.  Stewardship Ontario which receives these fees claims not to be government yet they were setup by the provincial government.

If they are not government, then someone or some group is getting the money we are all being forced to pay. The manufactures are allowed to pass along the fees they are charged to the consumer in any manner they choose. At this point, the fees are appearing on our sales receipts as an added fee one which we pay — you guessed it — HST. But it’s not a tax you see, you just have to pay tax on it.

There appears to be no established standard as to how the fees are assessed and as such the consumer has zero protection from the manufacturers taking whatever they want as the cost of passing on the fee. Since it isn’t attached to the product at the point of the consumer making their selection, we don’t even have buying power to limit the fees to a minimum.

There is no incentive for a manufacturer to absorb the costs into any part of their process or even to find cheaper ways to bring their product to market by keeping the eco fee to a minimum. Those products that are being charged the fees, oh yeah, you’re supposed to recycle them. While some retailers will be accepting some of those products, the vast majority of them will be recycled through municipal waste programs which, you guessed it, our tax dollars pay for.

Stewardship Ontario claims the new fees, along with those introduced in 2008 and since will “helping ensure that these products are collected, recycled, reused or disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way. And that’s good for you, good for your families and good for the environment.” Lots of luck with that boys.

If you think for even a moment that after paying this fee at the till I’m going to make sure the product ends up in a recycling depot, you have another think coming. Why would I pay for having to separate the items from my regular garbage (that I also pay to put out) and then transport it to a recycling depot when I’ve already paid a fee at the till?

They really want to ensure that more of these items are diverted from landfills, they need to do what beer and wine producers have done for years. Convert the Eco fee to an Eco deposit, with flat fees depending on the size of the items, which can be refunded when the products are brought to a recycling depot. That way, those who don’t recycle pay for the cost of running the program.

That would be too much like providing a real incentive and returning some of the cost of the effort to the consumer. Heaven forbid the taxpayer come out even when a cash grab is more fun.

This debacle was started by the Harris Conservative government and advanced under the McGuinty Liberals. This is one more nail in the Liberals coffin in Ontario. Since I wont vote for Hudak (Mike Harris lite) I may yet have to hold my nose and vote NDP in the next election.

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notice: The content of this post contains my opinions and my right to express them. I will respect your right to express your opinion in the comments as long as you’re not abusive and you respect my right to my opinion.

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