MONTREAL, Oct. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Quebec consumers will notice increased costs for light bulbs and electronics, due to environmental handling fees (ecofees). Government of Quebec mandated in 2011 producers and importers to implement a drop-off and recycling system of some products with high ecological imprints such as electronics and light bulbs.
"Retailers are committed to environmental sustainability and agree that this new regulation is required," said Nathalie St-Pierre, Vice-President for Québec. "However, they want customers to know the cost of these fees, and they will communicate them to consumers."
To finance this system, producers need to charge ecofees, which are included in the price of a wide variety of products targeted by the regulation such as mercury lights (e.g. fluorescents and compact fluorescents), computers, laptops and related products, televisions, printers, scanners, keyboards and mice, cell phones, answering machines and pagers.
The ecofees will be used to cover the costs of recycling these products, including the establishment of drop-off recycling facilities, transportation, re-use or recycling costs. The system will be managed by a non-profit organization, Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA).
"Retailers are of course complying with the regulations and will help to establish the recycling processes," said Nathalie St-Pierre. "Furthermore, our members will be part of the communication process to the public of the necessity of the implementation of these processes."
About Retail Council of Canada
Retail Council of Canada (http://www.cccd-rcc.org/fr/) has been the Voice of Retail in Canada since 1963. RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 43,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants.
SOURCE: Retail Council of Canada
Sally Ritchie
Vice President Communications and Marketing
Retail Council of Canada
[email protected]
416 922-6678 ext. 228
1 888-373-8245
416 574-2552 (Cell)
Jean-Guy Côté
Director, Government Relations and Public Affairs
[email protected]
514 982-0267 ext. 225
514 966-2078 (Cell)
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