4. Collection System and Facilities OPEIC contracts with the Service Provider to collect EOPE through the Service Provider’s network of collection sites. The Service Provider’s collection network provides year-round recycling options for consumers seeking to return their broken or unwanted EOPE at no charge. It has been developed in collaboration with existing collection networks, and other EPR programs wherever feasible to enhance program performance and to develop easy-to- access collection sites. It operates in collaboration with third-party business owners who operate independent collection sites, as well as municipalities and retail stores. The collection system is further supported by the use of one-day collection events and direct pick-up from large-volume generators. The Service Provider does not directly own or manage any collection sites, but contracts with organizations that can provide collection services. Collection sites include any location that accepts “Program Products” 3F 2 including, but not limited to, private drop-off centers, local government sites, service organizations, and return-to-retail. Regardless of the type of collection site, there is no charge to the consumer to drop off Program Products. Program Products have historically been categorized into two major groups for the purposes of collections: “Regular” and “Bulky.” “Regular” products include products such as chain saws, brush cutters, garden shears, tillers, ice drills and are designed to be carried by the equipment operator either on their back or in their hands and might have accessory wheels. “Bulky” products include ride-on electric lawn tractors.
All Program Products, except for electric lawn tractors, were collected in the same collection container. Electric lawn tractors were collected separately on pallets.
In 2024, our contracted service provider combined the regular and bulky collection streams, with all sites accepting both types of products. As of December 31, 2024, 239 3 collection sites accepted regular and bulky products (Program Products). The Program’s website provides a depot finder tool where consumers can find the nearest collection site that accepts Program Products. Of the 239 contracted collection sites, 223 were advertised. Advertised collection sites accept public drop-off of regular and bulky products and are listed on the OPEIC depot locator. Unadvertised sites, which include large-volume generators that may operate in the commercial or institutional (ICI) sector, municipal facilities, and landfills, do not allow public drop-off and
2 Program Products are defined in section 4 of the OPEIC Extended Producer Responsibility Program Plan to include electric outdoor power equipment that are battery-powered or electric powered. See the Program Plan or www.opeic.ca for a full list of accepted products. 3 In 2024, 15 sites closed. 13 of these sites were bulky-only sites that did not transition to accepting regular products during the integration of the regular and bulky streams. No gaps were created, in accordance with SABC standards, as a result of these closures. These areas were serviced either by nearby communities or through collection events.
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