Fact Sheet

June 3, 2008

The Toxics Reduction Act, 2009:
A Balanced Approach To Helping Our Environment And Our Economy

The Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 passed by the Ontario Legislature today, sets out a framework for reducing the use of toxic substances by industry.

It delivers on the Ontario government’s commitment to introduce toxics reduction legislation to reduce pollution and inform and protect Ontarians from toxic chemicals in the air, water, land and consumer products.  It will help contribute to a greener and healthier environment for our families and communities and a higher quality of life for all of us.

The act is at the core of Ontario’s Toxics Reduction Strategy.  The strategy itself represents a balanced approach to protecting human health and the environment and improving our quality of life, while supporting the transformation of businesses in Ontario to a green economy.

When the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009is in place, regulations would require facilities to:

• Track and quantify the toxics they use and create;
• Develop plans to identify ways to reduce the use and creation of toxics;
• Make summaries of the plans available to the public; and,
• Report on progress. 

Since one of the purposes of the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 is to inform Ontarians about toxic substances, the Ontario government plans to establish an electronic reporting system and a web site which would enable Ontarians to monitor the toxic substance reduction planning and reporting progress of facilities, and to gather information on toxic substances in order to make informed choices.

Additional details on the key components of the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 will be specified in regulations, including the list of toxic substances, substances of concern and facilities to be covered, as well as timelines for planning and reporting.  The development of these regulations will include consultation with stakeholders. 

The act also includes regulation-making authority to prohibit or regulate the manufacture, sale or distribution of a toxic substance or anything that contains the substance and to require the manufacturer, seller or distributor to provide notice to the public.  These new authorities would position the government to take action to protect Ontarians, if necessary.  Consultation with stakeholders and the public would take place prior to the development of any regulation under these new authorities.

The Toxics Reduction Strategy

Ontario’s strategy, of which the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 is the cornerstone, is built upon the recommendations of the Toxics Reduction Scientific Expert Panel and consultations with business and industry  and environmental and health organizations, including Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Medical Association.  The strategy, by introducing new legislative requirements under the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009, augments the traditional “end of pipe” approach to managing chemical releases by placing a new focus on reducing the use of these substances at the front end of industrial processes.

The toxic substance reduction planning required under the Act is a proven approach to reducing toxics use and creation, while helping to position businesses to identify operational efficiencies, costs savings and other opportunities to improve their competitive advantage in markets which are increasingly moving towards a greener economy.

The strategy works to support the new act by providing financial and technical support to industry, encouraging and supporting research and development in green chemistry, engineering and commercialization, mechanisms to help inform Ontarians about toxics and other supportive tools.

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Contacts:	Contact information for the general public:
John Karapita, Minister’s Office, 416-314-6736 Kate Jordan, Communications, 416-314-6666	ontario.ca/environment-news Disponible en français

 

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