Ontario Toxic Reduction Act

Pollutech Group of Companies Inc. is pleased to announce that it has two Licensed Toxic Reduction Planners on staff through the Ministry of the Environment under the Ontario Toxics Reduction Act and O. Reg 455/09.

In the current landscape of stringent environmental regulations and increasing public expectations, companies are being challenged to make environmental stewardship a key part of how they do business. The Toxics Reduction Act and Regulations (Reg 455/09) are designed to help companies identify opportunities to reduce "front-end” toxic substances use and creation, often resulting in cost saving opportunities and business risk reduction. This will help position Ontario businesses to be more sustainable in an increasingly "green” global economy.

The 2009 Ontario Toxics Reduction Act (TRA) requires many Ontario manufacturers to track toxic substances as they move through their operations, and to quantify the amount of each toxic substance that is used, created, destroyed, transferred or released. This information is then used to develop a Toxic Substance Reduction Plan for submission to the Ministry of the Environment, and a summary of the plan for public disclosure. Implementation of the reduction plan is voluntary, and progress is tracked through annual updates, and reviewed at specified intervals. The plan must be certified by the highest ranking management official at the facility.

In addition, the plan must be reviewed and certified by a Toxic Substance Reduction Planner, trained and licensed by the Ministry of the Environment. Planners provide recommendations on all aspects of the plan and provide a statement certifying that;

they are familiar with the processes at the facility,
they agree with the reduction estimates provided in the plan, and
the plan complies with the legislation.

In addition to reviewing, providing recommendations, and certifying plans, Pollutech can also assist facilities with all aspects of plan development, including tracking and quantification, and identification or feasibility analyses of reduction options.

Applicability of the Act:

In order for the Toxics Reduction Act to apply, a facility must;

have a NAICS code starting with "31”, "32”, "33”, or "212” (only when chemicals are used for processing, other than for wastewater treatment),
be required to report releases of a prescribed toxic substance under the NPRI, or acetone under Ontario Regulation 127/01.

Phase I included 47 priority substances and substance groups (such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)). Phase II includes all remaining NPRI substances, as well as acetone.

Key Dates

January 1, 2010 - Facilities are required to identify, track and quantify all Phase I substances used or created for each process.

June 17, 2011 – The first annual report for Phase I substances was due, including tracking and quantification of prescribed substances.

June 29, 2012 – The second annual report for Phase I substances was due, including tracking and quantification of prescribed substances.

December 31, 2012 – Complete Toxic Substance Reduction Plans for each of the Phase I substances are due.

January 1, 2012 – Facilities are required to identify, track and quantify all Phase II substances used or created for each process.

June 1, 2013 – The first annual report for Phase II substances is due, including tracking and quantification of prescribed substances.

December 31, 2013 – Complete Toxic Substance Reduction Plans for each of the Phase II substances are due.