1) CLARIFICATION ON DESIGNATED MATERIALS:

In recent months OES and other provincial programs (ACES, ESBAC, SWEEP) have consulted with Electronic Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) to review definitions and obligation of new EEE products (emerging technologies) and to ensure consistency across the provinces, where possible. In some cases, EPSC has also provided guidance on EEE materials/products that could meet more than one obligated material category definition and that need to be assigned to a specific category by OES.

OES communicates all items of clarification in the Bits and Bytes newsletter. Recent items, excerpted from Clarification of EEE Materials/Products Obligated Under OES Program

NOTES:

1. A separate fee applies for computer peripherals, desktop computer and computer monitor.
2. A separate fee applies for all-in-one computers established under the display device category. Separate fees must be charged for computer peripherals.
3. These items control home theatre equipment, temperature, lights, etc., but also provide other functions, such as media storage.
4. This includes all tablets, touchpads, playbooks or other tablet PCs regardless of screen size.
5. These products function as a mobile computer and provide data collection and wireless communication for in-premise applications, including retail, grocery and light industrial supply chain environments. These devices are for commercial use only. Similar products would include portable bar code scanners.

Click to view OES decisions on obligated and non-obligated EEE materials.

2) NEW STEWARD FEES AND PROGRAM RULES BEGAN AUGUST 1, 2011

New Fees Apply To OES Reports To Be Filed by September 30, 2011

New OES Steward fees came into effect on August 1, 2011. All Stewards have been notified of these changes in previous Bits and Bytes issues and on a June 29 webcast. The webcast archive and webcast slides remain available at www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca

The new program Rules and fees apply to OES Reports that will be filed for the obligation months of August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012 (inclusive). Your August 2011 Report will be filed by September 30, 2011 using the new fee schedule.

The current Rules and the 2010-2011 fee rates remain in effect for OES reports for all obligation months up to and including July, 2011.  This includes the reports that come due on August 30, 2011 (as indicated in item 3).

OES requests that every, Steward, Remitter and Sub-Remitter and other organization in the information technology/consumer electronics supply chain take time to find out about the changes, educate and communicate the changes to your staff, and adjust your systems to reflect the correct fees.

Brochures for Retail Staff and Customers

OES is committed to providing essential information for electronics retailers to educate staff about the program and the environmental handling fees and offers brochures for this purpose.

1. Retailer-directed staff brochure
   Provides information to help staff address customer enquiries and other program or operational matters (for OES collectors and all other retail operations)
2. Environmental handling fee (EHF) brochure for customers
   To be made available to the customer prior to sale. If you or your supply chain have not yet received these materials, please email marketing@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca

For more information, contact:
info@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca

3) REPORTS AND PAYMENTS FOR JULY, 2011 DUE AUGUST 30, 2011

All OES Stewards, Remitters and Sub-Remitters are required to track and report monthly the amount of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) that you supply for use in Ontario. Reports for sales activities that took place between July 1 and July 31, 2011 are due on August 30, 2011. Current Rules and fee rates apply (i.e.  those labeled as “April 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011").

For previous reporting dates see: Reporting Timelines.

4) HOW TO FILE AN OES REPORT AND UPDATE YOUR COMPANY’S PROFILE

Filing your OES Report

For information on how to file your OES Report, please see Guidebook 2: How to file an OES Report, which will soon be updated to incorporate the new fee rates.

Updating your Company's Profile

When was the last time you updated your company’s profile in our system?  If you haven’t checked your company’s profile in the last few months, please do so now when you enter the system this month. If you’d like us to make any changes for you, please contact Customer Service to do so.  Call 1-888-646-1820 or email info@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca

5) HOW TO REMIT PAYMENT TO OES

OES provides information that enables 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: email: oesaccounting@ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca  for details.
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.

6) OES has moved

OES has just relocated its corporate office from Suite 301 to Suite 400 in the same building. Our new address is:

885 Don Mills Road, #400
North York, ON M3C 1V9

Our new fax number is 416-380-4154.

All administrative address, telephone and other contact information remains the same as shown at our Contact Us webpage .