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  • Outdoor Power EquipmentOPEIC Stewardship Program
  • Outdoor Equipment RecyclingOPEIC Stewardship Program
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    Consumers

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    Accepted Products by Category:

    Electric powered mowers, snow throwing equipment and gardening tools - corded and/or battery powered. Outdoor power equipment that relies on a fuel-powered engine is not included in the program, however many collection sites may accept them, at their discretion.

    1. Hand-Held EOPE

    • Brush Cutters/Loppers
    • Chain Saws
    • Garden Shears
    • Garden Sprayer/Insect Fogger
    • Ice Drill
    • Lawn Blowers / Vacuums
    • Lawn Scarifier/Dethatchers
    • Pole Chainsaw
    • Pole Saw / Pole Pruning Saw
    • Post Hole Digger
    • Stick Edger
    • Tiller
    • Trimmers (grass, hedge etc.)
    • Split Boom

    2. Walk Behind EOPE

    • Lawn Mower
    • Snowthrower/ Snowblower
    • Tiller/Cultivator
    • Walk Behind Sprayer
    • Dethatcher
    • Edger/Trimmer
    • Lawn Aerator

    3. Free-Standing EOPE

    • Mulcher
    • Pressure Washer
    • Wood Chipper/Shredder
    • Wood Splitter

    4. Lawn Tractor EOPE

    • Lawn Tractor

    Funding

    The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada (OPEIC) Stewardship Program is a non-profit program funded by an environmental handling fee (EHF) applied to electric outdoor products brought into B.C. by electric outdoor power equipment manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. The fee was introduced on July 1st, 2012 to cover the management of the program. The recycling fee may be included in a product’s price or displayed as a separate charge at check-out.


    Fee Schedule

    Product Category  
    Hand-Held EOPE $2.00
    Walk-Behind EOPE $8.00
    Free-Standing EOPE $4.50
    Lawn Tractors EOPE $16.00


    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada (OPEIC) Recycling Program?

    OPEIC is the only government-approved electric outdoor power equipment recycling program in B.C. As of July 1, 2012, British Columbians are able to recycle electric products ranging from chain saws, garden sprayers and lawn mowers to pressure washers, mulchers and wood chippers.

    Who is OPEIC?

    The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada (OPEIC) is a non-profit organization representing the outdoor power equipment industry in Canada.  OPEIC has developed a stewardship program for recycling old or broken electric outdoor power equipment.

    Who manages the overall program?

    OPEIC has partnered with Product Care Association of Canada (PCA) to set up and operate this province-wide stewardship program. Product Care Association is a not-for-profit industry association that develops, implements and manages recycling programs across Canada. PCA has been contracted by OPEIC to manage the stewardship program for electrical outdoor power equipment in British Columbia.

    When did the program start?

    The program began July 1st, 2012.

    Why did OPEIC develop a recycling program?

    The provincial government has mandated that electric outdoor power equipment manufacturers and retailers must recover and recycle their products. A recycling program for electric outdoor power equipment has been developed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute of Canada (OPEIC) and approved by the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

    Where can I take my electric outdoor power equipment for recycling?

    Visit www.opeic.ca/consumers.html and enter your city or postal code in the depot finder to find a location near you that includes the location's address, map and hours of operation.  Outdoor power equipment that relies on a fuel-powered engine is not included in the program, however many collection sites may accept them, at their discretion.

    What products can I recycle?

    OPEIC currently manages electric outdoor power equipment, ranging in size from hand-held brush cutters and chain saws to pressure washers and lawn mowers. Products are divided into categories including: hand-held, walk behind, free-standing and lawn tractors. Visit www.opeic.ca/consumers.html#products to see a complete list of what electric outdoor power equipment are accepted by the program.

    What should I do with my electric products that don't qualify for recycling with OPEIC?

    Programs such as ElectroRecycle, ERPA, Call2Recycle and Recycle My Cell are available to recycle other types of electric products.

    For information on other recycling options for products not accepted by OPEIC, call the Recycling Council of B.C.'s Hotline at 1-800-667-4321 or download the convenient BC Recyclepedia Smart Phone App.

    What should I do with my electric outdoor power equipment that is still in good condition?

    If your electric outdoor power equipment is still functional and is in relatively good condition, consider trying to find it a second home before dropping it off for recycling. Possible avenues include family members, friends, neighbours, a garage sale, thrift stores, charities, or classifieds sites such as Craigslist, Kijiji, Freecycle, or the Recycling Council of B.C.'s reuse sites.

    Do the collection sites accept both fuel-powered and electric outdoor power equipment?

    The OPEIC program covers electric outdoor power equipment with a power cord, plug and/or battery(ies) as the primary energy source. Outdoor power equipment that relies on a fuel-powered engine is not included in the program, however many collection sites may accept them, at their discretion.

    Gasoline and oil must be drained and removed from fuel-powered products prior to taking them to any collection site. For gasoline disposal, see productcare.org/BC-Paint-Program and for oil disposal, see usedoilrecycling.com

    What about component parts?

    If component parts have enough metal content to be considered scrap metal, the collection site would accept these materials.

    How is the program funded?

    Like most other recycling programs operating in BC, the OPEIC program is funded by an environmental handling fee (EHF) applied on the sale of new electric outdoor power equipment brought into the province by manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

    The EHF was introduced on July 1st, 2012 to support the management of this new program. This non-profit program operates on a long-term cost-recovery basis. Retailers, manufacturers and distributors do not make a profit from these programs.

    The costs of responsible recycling programs ultimately affect the price of the products we buy.

    Why doesn't the EHF pay for someone to pick up my outdoor power equipment for me?

    A curbside collection program would significantly increase program costs. The OPEIC program is operated through a network system of accessible drop-off collection sites within the province. Blue box and other curb-side recycling programs are paid for and managed by local governments and generally do not include electric outdoor product equipment such as pressure washers, grass trimmers or lawn mowers. Most electric outdoor power equipment is too large for the blue boxes.

    Do I get a refund when I recycle my electrical products (similar to bottle returns)?

    The EHF is not a deposit, so you won't get a refund when you recycle an electrical product. However, there is no charge to drop-off your electrical products at any OPEIC drop-off location.

    Is there a tax on the EHF?

    The EHF is subject to sales tax, as it is considered to be a part of the price of regulated products. While the applicable tax will be remitted to the government, no part of the EHF itself will be remitted to the government.

    How are EHFs set?

    EHFs were determined by OPEIC based on industry-best practices and other factors including:

    • Total product weight per category
    • Costs of program administration
    • Product sales and forecasts

    The program is designed so the cost of managing one category is not subsidized by the EHFs paid by another category. EHFs will be reviewed periodically and will be re-adjusted if necessary.

    On October 1, 2016, the EHF's were adjusted downward to better reflect the administrative costs of managing the OPEIC program.

    How can I get more information about OPEIC?

    If you don't see your question here, just email us directly to info@opeic.ca and we’ll make sure to get back to you. You can also call the Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321 or go to their website Recycling Council of B.C.'s.



    Related Links

    ElectroRecycle, B.C.'s Small Appliance and Power Tool Recycling Program
    Recycling Council of British Columbia
    RCBC Recyclepedia
    Province of B.C. Stewardship Program
    Stewardship Agencies of BC (SABC)
    Canadian Electrical Stewardship Association (CESA)
    Product Care Association
    Call2Recycle
    Electronic Products Recycling Association of BC
    Encorp Pacific (Canada) - Return-It
    Recycle My Cell
    Tire Stewardship B.C.
    LightRecycle
    B.C. Used Oil Management Association
    Brewers Distributor Limited (BDL)
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