Eco fee?? More taxes...YAY!

[TaraF]

Alright so those in Ontario and BC who are now stuck with the new HST aren't happy about it, but did you know there was something else introduced on July 1st that we knew NOTHING about?

I'm in Ontario, so I'll tackle this from an Ontario point of view. Not only do we have the new 13% HST tax we also have a new 13% "Eco Fee", which the Government says is NOT a tax *coughs*BS*coughs* and is TOTALLY separate from the HST. The "Eco Fee" of 13% applies to the following purchases: (Note: I can't tell if this is different from that electronics recycling fee some may be familiar with or now it's just being added but it's a flat charge of 13% on the below items versus the plethora of % being charged on electronics such as TVs, Computers, etc.)

The fees now cover all aerosol containers from hairspray to whipped cream, pharmaceuticals, syringes, mercury-containing devices and other toxic, corrosive or flammable products.

Read thestar.com article here: http://www.thestar.com/business/arti...-surprise?bn=1

I love the whole, "we impose these fees so that these items can be disposed of properly at centres". How many people are going to try to find a drop off centre to drop off their hairspray tins? If we are paying all of these "Eco Fees" and "Recycling Fees", I want someone coming to my doorstep and picking up all of my stuff that I'm paying for someone to dispose of.

******* RANT OVER *******

[greentires4me]

sounds interesting here in BC we have the Carbon Tax but that was put in last year on July 1st I believe it went up by 1% this year which is on the gas we fill up at the pumps...

I'm sure there was something like Eco Fee that happened here several years ago...and after awhile no one really noticed it when they bought anything.

[TaraF]

sounds interesting here in BC we have the Carbon Tax but that was put in last year on July 1st I believe it went up by 1% this year which is on the gas we fill up at the pumps...

I'm sure there was something like Eco Fee that happened here several years ago...and after awhile no one really noticed it when they bought anything.

It's going to get to the point that there are so many different taxes that no one keeps track anymore and you just fork over your money. I know Toronto is toying with a tax on gas purchased there *sighs*

What I find interesting is that grocery items under $4.00 are exempt of 1 tax (don't ask me which one lol) but you won't be charged the full 13% HST on a grocery item under $4.00. Well now, you WILL be charged a tax of 13% on at least whip cream in a can, but it won't be the HST.

I don't buy whip cream in a can so it won't effect me but it's the point. It's the point that the taxes (even if they don't call them such) keep piling on and we are left going, what? And I've read nothing about this new fee being established until today either.

[Zonny]

We have something similar in NS since 2008, a fee on electronics. On a $12 alarm clock it's $2-$3, a TV it's something like $25, a computer even more. This is allegedly to pay for recycling of said items, and dispose of anything harmful in them. However, it does NOT include curbside pickup, you have to drag your items to one of a few special recycling centres.

Z

[FallenPixels]

I actually prefer the flat fee compared to x on a TV regardless of whether you are buying a little tv for the cottage or a supersized flatscreen etc

Many of the aerosol ecofees we were already paying in the cost of the product, want to be the price doesn't go down on them though?

[TaraF]

Zonny, we've had the electronic disposable waste fee for a bit over a year I think. How much varies by what you are buying, the size, etc. Which is why I'm not sure if this is just something else they've added to the big blanket of "recycling" fees or it's completely new.

And of course you have to drag your garbage to them, why should we get a break for paying extra money, that would make too much sense

[FallenPixels]

Yeah this one includes a lot more than just the TVs etc, just in the linked article, 13c on a bottle of detergent

Its part of Stewardship Ontario, the list of fees should be at this link, but their website is down
http://www.stewardshipontario.ca/blu...fees_rates.htm

[greentires4me]

We don't want to get now ya gotta pay for taxes when you die now too...all those extra funeral costs that you didn't have to pay before is now going to show up on the end bill.

[FallenPixels]

Yeah, lets remember this at the election next October!

I wonder if we will get taxed for recycling McGuinty out of power?

[Natalka]

Yup, vote differently. In SK., no provincial liberals elected - for ages!. We have one lone liberal MP - Ralph Goodale.

[travelgeek]

Don't forget, HST applies on this BS tax. So yes, a tax on top of a tax.

Won't affect me much, it'll just push me to do more of my shopping in the US. It's already nice not to have to pay the plastic bag fee down there.

[mpbabes]

OMG! I was JUST about to post about this too!!!!

I am so incredibly disgusted with our government, I can't begin to explain it.

I agree with you, if I'm paying fees, then I want it picked up at my door. These items will likely go into a landfill anyway! The thing that p*sses me off the most is, when we first saw the fee on electronics we were at Future Shop and said, "great, so this means we can drop off our old stuff for recycling here!" The attendant was quick to tell us, oh no, we don't accept that stuff here. Well then, why am I getting the fee?

Shouldn't I only be charged when I go to drop it off?


#@$%$^#^#^#$%@%^#%@^*^##$%@$%#^@%!%#^&@^@%@%@^@!!!!!!!!!!

[lekate]

It's going to get to the point that there are so many different taxes that no one keeps track anymore and you just fork over your money. I know Toronto is toying with a tax on gas purchased there *sighs*

What I find interesting is that grocery items under $4.00 are exempt of 1 tax (don't ask me which one lol) but you won't be charged the full 13% HST on a grocery item under $4.00. Well now, you WILL be charged a tax of 13% on at least whip cream in a can, but it won't be the HST.

I don't buy whip cream in a can so it won't effect me but it's the point. It's the point that the taxes (even if they don't call them such) keep piling on and we are left going, what? And I've read nothing about this new fee being established until today either.

Don't most grocery items not have taxes on them? except for junk food? I know under 4$ of prepared foods (ie. french fries bought at mc'ds or whatever) are only charged 8% tax....

[Zonny]

OMG! I was JUST about to post about this too!!!!

I am so incredibly disgusted with our government, I can't begin to explain it.

I agree with you, if I'm paying fees, then I want it picked up at my door. These items will likely go into a landfill anyway! The thing that p*sses me off the most is, when we first saw the fee on electronics we were at Future Shop and said, "great, so this means we can drop off our old stuff for recycling here!" The attendant was quick to tell us, oh no, we don't accept that stuff here. Well then, why am I getting the fee?

Shouldn't I only be charged when I go to drop it off?

No, I disagree with you there. I think it's good that things get recycled. Who would take the time to drag their item to a recycling centre and PAY for it to be recycled? No one would; people would either toss it into their regular trash or just dump it in the woods somewhere, polluting all kinds of stuff.

But they need to make it convenient for us to recycle it, and maybe rebate some of the fee when we drop it off. I'm already making big changes for the environment in that I don't have a car, but that means they want me to drag my old TV, computer, etc. to a recycling centre on the bus! We had to do just that recently with an old computer, it was a PITA.

Z

[mle]

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS. Went over to home depot with my mom yesterday for a small can of trim and door paint, and when we did the self-checkout a cashier had to confirm some kinda fee.

Well, now I know, thanks for the post! I don't believe anyone in my family was aware of this new fee either.

But what I do think could be to put in place is a fee return for those who do dispose of their packaging and such properly (like when you buy wine and beer, you pay a fee and it is returned once you return it). It only seems fair if the fee is charged on the basis of proper product disposal. Besides the fee can really add up for people like contractors, construction companies etc.

Even for the medicine syringes and needles, for those who are for example diabetic I could only expect the fee to be another burden. I also find it interesting that while we are encouraged to use rechargeable batteries and flourescent bulbs to be eco-friendly, we also have to pay to do so? We're also encourged to have fire extinguishers in our homes for safety, and now there's an extra fee for me doing so? Do you think I'm buying them for fun?

I guess we're just gonna have to dig into our pockets a little deeper. again.