EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the sale or offering for sale of washing machines that are not equipped with a specified microplastics filter and to provide for corresponding penalties in case of non-compliance with the requirement.

Bill 279 2021

An Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act with respect to microplastics filters for washing machines

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 The Environmental Protection Act is amended by adding the following section:

Prohibition, washing machine without microplastics filter

88.1  No person shall offer for sale or sell a washing machine that is not equipped with a filter for removing microplastics that has a maximum mesh size of 100 microns or such smaller mesh size as may be prescribed by Minister’s regulation.  

2 The Act is amended by adding the following section:

Offence, s. 88.1

90 (1)  Despite the penalties set out in section 187, every person who contravenes section 88.1 is liable on conviction to a fine of,

  (a)  in the case of an individual, a maximum fine of $1,000 for the first unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter and of $2,000 for each subsequent unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter; and

  (b)  in the case of a corporation, a maximum fine of $2,000 for the first unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter and of $5,000 for each subsequent unit sold or offered for sale without the required filter.

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on the second anniversary of the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4 The short title of this Act is the Environmental Protection Amendment Act (Microplastics Filters for Washing Machines), 2021.