The Province is taking steps to reduce red tape for small businesses impacted by a new recycling program which shifts costs from B.C. taxpayers to industry. Government intends to introduce a new regulation which will exempt small businesses from any reporting or recycling costs if they meet any one of the following criteria:
• Under one million dollars in annual revenues;
• Under one tonne of packaging and printed paper supplied to B.C. residents; or
• Operate as a single point of retail sale and are not supplied by or operated as part of franchise, a chain or under a banner.
This means less than 3,000 businesses out of over 385,000 in the province will be affected by this program; less than one per cent of the total number of business in B.C.
Multi-Material British Columbia (MMBC), the industry-led stewardship organization responsible for the recycling program, will also be giving an option to businesses for an annual flat fee if they are considered a low volume producer of packaging and printed paper. Businesses producing between one and five tonnes can pay a pre-determined recycling fee and will not have to provide detailed reporting.
Last fall, government requested MMBC to consult with small businesses after being presented with concerns about the program’s implementation.
In response, MMBC engaged with the business community, led by the BC Chamber of Commerce, and presented a policy to government intended to eliminate administrative burden for small businesses in B.C. The new program will come into effect on May 19, 2014.