Wayne D's Blog

May 2010 updated with the rates that came into effect starting April 1st 2010 from http://www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca/stewards/fees.html

Jan. 27th 2010, See my update which discusses the likely increase in these fees at Ontario Computer Recycling Tax Rates Likely to Rise

When is a tax not a tax? When it's a government mandated and collected user fee. As of April 1st all Ontario residents will be forced to pay a tax on evey new computer. monitor, TV, mouse sold in Ontario. These new fees kick in April 1st and the government is planning on passing on the money collected to the industry to recycle electronics. This means there is no government oversight of the fees they are collecting from us. The best of both worlds, plausible denialbility for both sides. What are the rates?

Desktop Computers $13.44 $7.80 unit
Portable Computers $2.14 $2.75 unit
Computer Peripherals ( Mice, Keyboards. Single Hard drives,
Optical Drives) $0.32 $0.40 unit
Monitors $12.03/ unit Televisions $10.07/ unit
Displays < 29" $12.25 unit, Displays > 29" $26.25 unit
Printers $5.05 $5.40 unit

These rates are only good for one year, so expect them to rise next year.

Why does a 52" LCD TV cost less to dispose of than a 17" LCD monitor? No idea. Why $10 more for a $500 desktop than a $2000 laptop. Couldnt be because a desktop is easier to disassemble and reuse.

The best part is that this is only the beginning, next we get to pay a new disposal tax on the following items.

# Computer peripherals will include modems
# Printing devices will include copiers, scanners, typewriters.
# Telephones (physical and accessories)
# Cellular phones
# PDA’s and pagers
# Audio and video players
# Cameras
# Equalizers, (pre)amplifiers
# Radios
# Receivers
# Speakers
# Tuner
# Turntable

The best part is that these taxes are completely hidden so you can continue to live in blissful ignorance. I feel sorry for Ontario retailer because it appear to me that items bought out of province are exempt. This is a great time to make Ontario retailers less competitive, the middle of a recession. Another unaccountable bureaucracy to pick our pockets, sigh.

The paltry consumer information on the website glosses over the level of the fees that are being applied. It's always best to keep the people who are paying in the dark.