Sector Compliance Branch: Inspections

Plastic Manufacturing Facilities

The Sector Compliance Branch (formerly call the Environmental SWAT Team) conducted an inspection sweep of plastic manufacturing facilities from August 2005 to March 2006. A total of 88 inspections were conducted during this time.

• About this Sector
• The Inspections
• Inspection Results

Plastic Manufacturing Facilities

There are over 2000 businesses in Ontario that are involved in some type of plastics manufacturing. About half of these companies are small manufacturing sites, and the majority are located in urban industrial parks in Southern Ontario, mainly in the Greater Toronto Area.

Plastic manufacturing companies produce goods for a wide range of consumer and commercial products such as automotive parts, construction materials, electronics and technology goods. Some environmental issues related to the production of plastic products include air emissions (mainly nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which are two main components of smog), as well as waste water containing residue from the manufacturing process. Also, solid waste that is improperly stored may leach additives into the ground.

The Inspections

When conducting inspections of these facilities, the inspectors typically:

• ensure that the discharge of air contaminants is within the limits set out on the company's certificate of approval (Air),
• ensure that the companies have proper spill management practices,
• ensure that the company is using proper wastewater and solid waste management practices.

Inspection Results

The inspectors have identified non-compliance issues at many facilities, including:

• no certificate of approval to operate machinery or paint spray booths
• non-compliance with a certificate of approval when operating equipment
• failure to provide adequate spill containment for hazardous material
• improper storage of waste, and/or storage of waste on site in excess of 90 days.

You may also view a summary of the results.