Environment Minister Issues Call To Action to Better Manage Hazardous Waste Imports

OTTAWA - July 27, 2000 -- Environment Minister David Anderson today released the 1999 Canadian statistics on transboundary movements of hazardous waste, which shows that there has been an 18 percent increase in imported hazardous waste into Canada from 1998 to 1999. Minister Anderson has written to his provincial and territorial counterparts urging them to immediately begin work with Environment Canada to strengthen provincial standards for all facilities that accept hazardous waste, including landfills.

"The continuing rise in imports of hazardous waste is raising questions of safety and responsibility. Canada does not want to become a pollution haven", said Minister Anderson. "My mandate, and the mandate of all environment ministers in Canada, is to protect the health and environment of Canadians from the effects of toxic and hazardous materials."

The 1999 statistics reveal that the rate of increase in imports is explained by the differences in standards for pre-treatment of waste within Canada, by differing environmental liabilities between Canada and the United States, and by the lower Canadian dollar.

"I want to see a Canadian solution that requires both domestically generated and imported hazardous waste to be pre-treated to render them safe, prior to final disposal. I will use the powers in the new Canadian Environmental Protection Act to ensure that national standards for transboundary movements of hazardous waste are in place. I am urging the provinces and territories to ensure the same for domestically generated waste", said Minister Anderson.

The new CEPA requires that reduction plans be prepared for exports of waste sent for final disposal. The priority will be placed on waste containing substances deemed toxic under CEPA. Any standards or regulations under the new CEPA must be consistent with international environmental and trade obligations. An enhanced liability regime will also be introduced along with a greater focus on preventing hazardous waste generation.

Federal, provincial and territorial governments currently have in place a hazardous waste management regime that minimizes risks to human health. They have promoted recycling and recovery of the waste over disposal. Last year, for example, forty per cent of the imports were destined for recycling.

The work with provincial and territorial governments on a strengthened regime will take place in the coming months and will be discussed at the next meeting of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment in the Fall.

Related documents:

• Hazardous Waste Management In Canada - [fact sheet, 2000-07-27]
• Transboundary Movement Division - [information collection]