COVID 19 Disrupts Cross-Border Waste and Recyclables Flow In light of all the actions being taken by all levels of government to address the spread of the coronavirus, it is worth considering its impact on the waste management sector in Canada. For most, how waste is collected and where it is taken, is not a daily consideration. And yet, it is one of the most important public health and safety considerations. Canadian Waste Industry Vulnerable to US Shutdown…
This week is Baker & McKenzie’s annual International Environmental Conference in Chicago, Illinois on June 19-21, 2019. Jonathan Cocker is moderating the panel, “Understanding the Scope of the Circular Economy Dilemma – The Global Plastics Challenge”. The panelists include Tim Carey (PepsiCo), Mario Facio (B&M – Mexico City), Renata Amaral (B&M – Sao Paulo), Pascal Mallien (B&M – Antwerp), Doug Sanders (B&M – Chicago). The panel will discuss a high level overview of circular economy…
Jonathan Cocker’s latest blog entry entitled, “Can-Am Recycling of Batteries Made Easier Under New Cross-Border Regulation” has been republished on the Advanced Waste Solutions website. To read the article, click HERE.
The interprovincial and international movement of hazardous recyclable materials, such as used batteries, is already big business and will only grow in the coming years in North America. Internationally, no less than 99% of all (lawful) hazardous recyclables (and hazardous waste) exported from, or imported to, Canada are with the United States. The coming restrictions under amendments to the Basel Convention will also strengthen and foster demand for North American-based hazardous materials recycling as transfers to…
We are excited to announce that Baker & McKenzie’s Consumer Goods & Retail (CG&R) Industry Group, along with the support of the UN Global Impact, is hosting its annual flagship event at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Sustainability in the CG&R Industry will the main focus of the event, and Baker & McKenzie is delighted to welcome UN Global Compact CEO & Executive Director Lise Kingo and Fordham Law…
Jonathan Cocker will be presenting the “North America’s First Circular Economy WEEE Law – Strategies for Compliance” Webinar, hosted by Compliance & Risks on Wednesday, April 18th live at 16:00 GMT. North America’s first Circular Economy law has been passed in Ontario, which is set to fundamentally change end-of-life obligations for the electronics industry. Producers and importers of all electrical and electronic equipment sold in Ontario will be obliged to divert e-waste from landfills through…
Jonathan Cocker will be presenting the “North America’s First Circular Economy WEEE Law – Strategies for Compliance” Webinar hosted by Compliance & Risks on Wednesday, April 18th at 16:00 GMT. Details on how to reserve your Webinar seat will be available closer to the date. ____ For further information, please contact Jonathan Cocker: [email protected] 416-865-6908
EPA has issued a proposed rule that would add discarded aerosol cans to the list of hazardous wastes that can be managed and transported under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s (“RCRA’s”) streamlined universal waste regulations. (83 Fed. Reg. 11654 (March 16, 2018)). Currently, most non-empty, waste aerosol cans are regulated as hazardous waste either because they exhibit a hazardous characteristic (typically ignitability) or because the can contains a RCRA-listed chemical. As a result, these…
Apparel manufacturers and other value chain parties will be familiar with many of the environmental content standards which have been emerging, including: – restrictions on harmful substances usage; – more responsible materials sourcing; – better durability; and – reduction of packaging. Once met, any further environmental duties will only occur at the other end of a textile’s linear path, at the point it enters a waste, or diverted waste stream such as reuse, without regard…
On March 6th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit modified its 2017 ruling that struck down portions of EPA’s definition of solid waste (“DSW”) rule. (American Petroleum Institute, et al. v. EPA, No. 09-1038 (D.C. Cir. March 6, 2018)). At issue in the case is a 2015 rule that determined when hazardous secondary materials are recycled and thus not subject to regulation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) as hazardous…