August 7, 2009
Business and the Environment
Environmental Program to Measure Hazardous Substance Use and Release
Marco Belmont from Toronto Public Health presented the Environmental Reporting, Disclosure and Innovation Program (ERDI) to Canadian Collision Industry Forum attendees earlier this year. The program includes a new bylaw, which will require businesses and City operations to publicly report their use and release of 25 hazardous chemicals that are in Toronto’s environment at levels of health concern. Although the by-law only affects the City of Toronto, it could be an indicator of what is to come in other areas of the country.
The by-law, which comes into effect on January 1, 2010, aims to protect health by reducing exposure to toxic substances released by the thousands of facilities operating in Toronto, primarily in the air. Until now, existing reporting regulations focused only on large businesses. The new by-law addresses the lack of information available about toxic chemicals commonly used and emitted by small and medium sized facilities.
Phased implementation
The program will affect businesses that use or emit 25 hazardous chemicals that have been identified by Toronto Public Health as priority substances. The implementation of the program will be phased in over the next 4 years. ERDI requires mandatory measurement and reporting of use and release of the priority substances. Specifi cally, a facility will have to begin to measure their use of the identified substances as total manufactured, processed or otherwise used, and their on-site releases to air, water, or land. For Automotive Repair & Maintenance businesses, collection of data is mandatory for the year 2011. They will be required to report this data in 2012.
Mandatory webbased reporting
ERDI has been designed to minimize the burden to businesses. Toronto Public Health will make it easier for business operators to comply with therequirements of the program by providing guidance documents, free training, calculation tools and technical support. Reporting will be facilitated through a web-based application, making the process convenient and easy.
Pollution reduction and incentives
The aim of the new program is to increase awareness of health concerns of use and release of toxic substances and encourage pollution prevention through chemical substitution and improved processes. Research on similar programs has shown that when companies are required to track and report toxic substance use and emissions, they start to find ways to reduce chemical use. The program will offer opportunities for financial incentives to those businesses that are successful in reducing pollution. The information collected about hazardous substances used and released will be made accessible to the public. ERDI may benefi t Toronto businesses by encouraging enhanced community relations, decreased chemical costs, lower hazardous waste management costs and improving worker health and safety.
More information
Belmont explained that ERDI is intended to avoid duplication of reporting already in place with existing federal and provincial reporting programs. Toronto Public Health will be consulting with the affected industries and answer questions. As well, they will provide the resources needed by business to collect and report the required data. He encourages Toronto businesses to refer to the following website for information: www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/enviro_info.htm.
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