In support of the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, the Manitoba government is working to develop an appliance stewardship program to increase recycling of household appliances, including ‘whitegoods’.
“We all know that recycling is critical to the protection of our environment and will help sustain the long-term viability of landfills across the province,” Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard said. “Encouraging Manitobans to make small changes in their homes can have a lasting impact on our environment. As identified in our Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, whitegoods management is an important step in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.”
This program would include whitegoods products containing refrigerants such as Freon or other ozone-depleting substances including appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. This initiative will further reduce the province’s greenhouse-gas emissions, which will help Manitoba meet its emission reduction targets, the minister noted.
“Every household in the province has whitegoods, whether it be a fridge, a freezer, a dehumidifier, a water cooler or an air-conditioning unit, and the improper disposal of these items leads to the release of more unwanted greenhouse gases and a negative impact on the environment,” said Dany Robidoux, executive director, Eco-West Canada. “We are proud to be working with the province to put in place a Whitegoods Stewardship and Recycling Program that will help grow the zero-waste economy, reduce the amount of stockpiled whitegoods at landfills, create jobs for the benefit of all Manitobans.”
Manitoba plans to modernize the regulatory framework for waste diversion and recycling to manage end-of-life whitegoods, by the end of 2021, Guillemard noted.
The province will build on the existing network of provincial recycling programs and working with industry, municipalities and other stewardship organizations, propose to develop a plan to introduce industry-funded stewardship programs for all corded appliances by 2022, the minister added.
