THE PULSE Newsletter of the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries Vol. 21, Issue 5, May 2016

THE PULSE

NEWSLETTER OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF RECYCLING INDUSTRIES

Vol. 21, Issue 5, May 2016

 

 

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

Celebrating success is a great way to acknowledge the work CARI members do on behalf of our industry. CARI’s Vice-Chair, Dan Klufas has made significant progress in his effort to limit burdensome metal theft legislation, and we congratulate him on this achievement. CARI staff has devoted a considerable amount of time to long-standing materials theft issues, and we continue to monitor new policy developments across Canada.

For several years, Dan has collaborated with a working group called PEPS (the Provincial Electricity Physical Security Group) in Alberta. Made up of members from the construction, communication, and electricity sectors; law enforcement; policymakers; and Government of Alberta lawyers, the group was formed to tackle metal theft in the province. Dan has worked tirelessly to explain how metal theft legislation can harm the scrap recycling industry while doing little to deter theft.

During consultations, Dan successfully conveyed that metal recyclers are not at the root of the metal theft problem. He shifted focus from placing the onus on scrapyard owners to identify stolen material to addressing what should be the most important aspect of metal theft: the threat it poses to critical infrastructure. Though metal theft is often treated as petty crime, metal thieves are capable of endangering public safety and national security.

Metal thefts in Canada – largely those of copper – have resulted in disruptions to electricity, telecommunications, and transportation. Damage to infrastructure sites in the electricity sector cost millions of dollars to repair, and these costs are ultimately passed on to the general public through higher bills. Most importantly, when thieves target industrial wires and telecommunications stations, it is possible to disable emergency services for entire communities. Given the seriousness of these crimes, Crown Prosecutors will now consider charging thieves under the Criminal Code for Mischief Endangering Life if it can be demonstrated that their actions endangered life.

Although a piece of legislation called the Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Identification Act was passed in Alberta a couple of years ago, regulations have not been created and policymakers are now willing to re-examine the bill to determine if new legislation should emphasize the protection of critical infrastructure.

This month, CARI President Tracy Shaw will speak at a metal theft seminar in Ontario hosted by Hydro One. The seminar will bring together various stakeholders in a collaborative effort similar to the PEPS model. Armed with knowledge of Dan’s success, Tracy will use a portion of her presentation to advocate for protecting critical infrastructure.

CARI staff will continue to monitor metal theft legislation developments, and participate in Scrap Theft Alert broadcasts. If you are concerned about materials brought into your yards, check ScrapTheftAlert.com. As always, we encourage you to work with local law enforcement and businesses to help identify stolen property.

Adam Chisick,
CARI Chair

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FAST FACTS

  • India’s Ministry of State of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has adopted new rules on waste imports and exports, called the “Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016”. A press release from the Ministry states that “the import of metal scrap, paper waste and various categories of electrical and electronic equipment for re-use purpose has been exempted from the need of obtaining Ministry’s permission.” BIR has expressed concern about how the rules will affect solid plastic waste imports.
  • ISRI’s Chief Economist Joe Pickard testified at a United States Trade Representative/U.S. Department of Commerce hearing on April 13, 2016. Pickard’s testimony highlighted the importance of the ferrous scrap market to the U.S.’s GDP, the relationship between the U.S. steel and scrap industries, and the ramifications of a surge in Chinese steel production. On behalf of ISRI, Pickard called for vigorous enforcement of trade laws to curb excess steel production. Read his full comments here.
  • The Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) has voiced its support for federal action to eliminate the import and use of asbestos brake pads in Canada. According to a press release by ARC, “Canada imported more than $100-million in asbestos brake pads and linings between 2005 and 2015.” As of April 5, 2016, the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change set out regulations that require auto dismantlers to remove asbestos brake pads prior to vehicle compaction. As ARC’s Managing Director Steve Fletcher notes, “For an auto recycler there is no way to know whether a brake pad contains asbestos or not. […] Asbestos brake pads should simply not exist in Canada.”

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