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• Reducing toxics for a greener, healthier Ontario
• Toxic substance reduction planners
• Creating a healthier environment and a greener economy
• Support and training for regulated facilities

Reducing toxics for a greener, healthier Ontario 

As part of our toxics reduction strategy, Ontario is helping regulated facilities use fewer toxic substances and move to safer alternatives with the Toxics Reduction Act.

The act requires regulated facilities in Ontario to:

• track, quantify and report annually on the toxic substances they use, create, release, dispose, transfer and contain in products
• develop plans to reduce the use and creation of these substances
• make annual reports and summaries of their plans available to their employees and the public

While preparing toxic substance reduction plans is mandatory, implementing the plans is voluntary. This is a proven approach to reducing toxics use and creation. The plans can also help businesses identify operational efficiencies, costs savings and other opportunities to improve their competitive advantage in markets that are moving increasingly towards a greener economy.

With the Toxics Reduction Act, Ontario is the leading province in Canada in toxics reduction legislation.

Toxic substance reduction planners 

The Ministry of the Environment is offering a licensing program for toxic substance reduction planners who will help Ontario businesses by certifying toxic reduction plans that reduce the use and creation of toxic substances. Under the Toxics Reduction Act, licensed planners are required to provide recommendations to improve a plan, strengthen the business case for implementation and certify that the plan complies with the regulations.

The Ministry of the Environment has developed a program to train and license toxic substance reduction planners. To become a licensed planner an individual must:

• meet specific education and/or work experience requirements
• submit the application form and pay the total fee
• complete the ministry-approved course
• pass the ministry-approved examination.

More information on toxic substance reduction planner licensing.

Creating a healthier environment and a greener economy 

Ontario’s approach to managing the release of toxic substances focuses on reducing the use and creation of toxic substances at the front end of manufacturing processes and mineral processing.

This strategy aims to develop new green jobs and position manufacturing and mineral processing sectors to better compete in a greening economy.

Support and training for regulated facilities 

The rest of this section is dedicated to providing regulated facilities with support and information to assist them in meeting the requirements of the Toxics Reduction Act. Please explore this section to find out:

• How to determine if your facility falls under the act
• Regulated toxic substances
• The benefits to greening your facility
• How Ontario is supporting:
  • facilities, with technical training and financial support
  • innovation, with green chemistry and engineering
  • industry leaders, with recognition.