Whereas non refillable pressurized tanks and sharps needles have been identified across British Columbia as creating serious health and safety concerns for the public and workers engaged in garbage and recycling collection, processing and landfilling; And whereas the Province of British Columbia can include these hazardous materials under the Recycling Regulation to ensure cost effective and safe disposal under an Extended Producer Responsibility Program: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to include nonrefillable pressurized tanks and sharps needles under the Recycling Regulation.
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy The Province acknowledges that the proper management of non refillable pressurized tanks and sharps are a challenge for local governments to manage. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy issued a Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper in September 2020 that sought feedback on a number of items that were potential products to be captured under Extended Producer Responsibility, including compressed gas in canisters and medical syringes. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy received substantive feedback from key partners and stakeholders, which is summarized in the Recycling Regulation Policy Intentions Paper - Summary of Feedback gov.bc.ca and was made publicly available June 2021. This will inform the subsequent development of a multi-year plan for Extended Producer Responsibility in BC.