Battery Producers individually and legally responsible for collection and management of used batteries under new regulation

Ontario has just released the battery Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016. This new Regulation significantly changes how battery producers manage their responsibility for used single and rechargeable batteries.

Under the new Regulation, companies defined as battery producers are now legally responsible, on an individual basis, for collecting and managing post-consumer batteries – and for meeting individual management targets. The Regulation replaces the collective producer responsibility model of the industry funding organization (IFO) system and expands the range of batteries regulated to include small rechargeable batteries.

Companies impacted by the Regulation are battery producers who are comprised of battery brand owners including manufacturers and retailers who sell under their own brand.

Producers are required to register with the regulatory oversight body, the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA), which was established by the Ontario Government to support the government’s drive towards a circular economy.

Producers must have in place, by July 1, 2020, collection and management systems - that they have established themselves or they have arranged through a registered producer responsibility organization (PRO).

Ryse Solutions Inc. is registered with RPRA as a PRO and is ready to assist battery producers with their regulatory compliance needs and to offer advice in preparing for the new Regulation’s requirements. “Through a vertically integrated network of in-house and partner recycling service providers, Ryse Solutions can design and implement customized solutions to serve the full range of needs for obligated battery producers,” says Gordon Day, Vice President.

Now in year two as a PRO, Ryse Solutions’ executive management has over 50 years of collective experience in circular economy solutions. It is currently expanding its existing PRO services beyond tires to other recyclable products - including batteries.

“Ryse Solutions’ expansion of its PRO services provides choice to the producer community,” Day says. “Producers can now choose a PRO that is most suited to their business and circular economy needs.”

Owned by Emterra Group, Ryse Solutions is operated as a stand-alone business to provide efficient and effective solutions for producers’ compliance under evolving regulations. Ryse Solutions is a vertically integrated service provider and advisory partner for customers across many material streams and industries. As such, it is able to provide advice, compliance support and reporting, real-world recyclability testing of products and packaging, and design and implement end-of-life collection and recovery programs to meet regulatory, corporate circular economy and risk management objectives. This sets Ryse Solutions apart from other PROs.

Ryse Solutions Inc. works with producers and packaging suppliers to provide compliance, advisory and material recovery solutions to meet ever-changing regulatory and sustainability demands. Our team has over 50 years of collective experience in circular economy solutions, including the design, implementation and management of producer responsibility programs, which cover a broad range of materials, such as tires, waste electronics, hard-to-recycle packaging and batteries. Backed by a well-developed network of collection, processing and end-market assets, we also offer solutions to producers, retailers, manufacturers and packaging suppliers, which include understanding the flow of material in recycling facilities; research and development on the recyclability of consumer plastic packaging and paper products; and, the development and optimization of commodity end markets.