Enhancing the BC Market-Driven Recycling System

The Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable:

The Major Appliance Recycling Roundtable (MARR) is a not-for-profit stewardship agency created to implement and operate a stewardship plan for end-of-life major household appliances in the province of British Columbia (BC) on behalf of the major appliance "producers" who are obligated under the BC Recycling Regulation. The MARR stewardship plan received the approval of BC's Ministry of Environment on June 29, 2012, and today is the only approved stewardship plan for major appliances in the province.

The MARR Approach in BC:

The MARR plan is focused on enhancing the performance and transparency of the existing market-based system of collecting and recycling major household appliances in BC. The plan is designed to achieve the aims of the BC Recycling Regulation within the context of this market-driven system. The existing market-based major appliances recycling system has operated successfully for decades and is driven principally by the value of ferrous and non-ferrous metals found in virtually all major household appliances. The market-driven system has proven its ability to operate successfully and with high levels of performance for decades.

In particular, the MARR stewardship plan includes commitments to:

  • Implement a recycling and processing standard and a processor certification and audit program to address the proper decommissioning of substances of concern in end-of-life major appliances
  • Work with collectors and recyclers to research and promote best practices to ensure on-going system performance and improvement
  • Create a branding and communications program to encourage market participation in the MARR processing standard
  • Conduct operational system studies on the operation and performance of the market-driven recycling system
  • Economic Study: Assesses the economic viability of the market driven system and analyses the challenges and barriers with respect to transportation and processing of end-of-life appliances from rural and remote communities.
  • Establish collection/diversion tracking and reporting systems to assess system performance over time
  • Report annually to the BC Ministry of Environment on MARR's progress achieving the commitments outlined above