Eco fees to be built into price tag of products like TVs under draft legislation

TORONTO – Ontario consumers would see eco-fees included in the price tag of products like TVs and computers under proposed new legislation.

In addition to the all-in pricing, the draft bill would get rid of industry-run stewardship organizations that were setting the eco fees.

Currently, producers and importers pay eco fees to those organizations to administer recycling programs, which are usually passed on to consumers.

The governing Liberals are introducing the legislation today, after promising to overhaul the system.

Stewardship Ontario came under fire in 2010 when, with little warning, eco fees were slapped on thousands of new household products.

The governing Liberals were forced to drop the fees on those products amid outrage from both consumers and businesses, but kept the fees on electronics.