Potential Obligations:
Electrical contractors, installers and relampers who directly import lamps, ballasts and/or fixtures into BC after July 1, 2012 may be classified as a legally obligated "producer" under the BC Recycling Regulation. Obligated producers will need to join the program as a member to report sales/remit fees unless each of their suppliers have joined the program to fulfill this responsibility for their customers. It is the program’s intent to recruit members as "high" on the supply chain as possible to simplify the reporting process for all parties involved.

See the questions above for the definition of a producer and discussion on the obligations of producers and members of the program.

Eco-Fees:
The program will be funded by "eco-fees" applied to the sale of new lamps, ballasts and fixtures in BC after July 1, 2012, including those sold to the commercial sector. These fees will be used by Product Care, a non-profit industry association, to fund the collection, transportation and recycling of end-of-life products to ensure all generators can recycle these products at the end of their life free of charge, as required by the BC Recycling Regulation.

These fees will be paid by members of the program (manufacturers, distributors, retailers) who have joined Product Care to fulfill their legal obligations. Members have the option of “passing-on” this fee to their customers.

Purchasers of new lamps, ballasts and fixtures may therefore begin seeing eco-fees being charged on products purchased after July 1, 2012. The expected impact of these fees should be considered on bids and contracts that extend past July 1, 2012.

See the questions above for details on these fees and how they will affect those in the supply chain.

Recycling:
All generators of end-of-life lamps, ballasts and fixtures will be able to recycle these products through the program’s collection system, free of charge, after July 1, 2012. See the questions above on how these products will be collected and recycled for more information.