On October 7, 2004, British Columbia passed the Recycling Regulation of the Environmental Management Act (B.C. Reg. 449/2004), a single, results-based framework that engages industry in new ways by shifting responsibility for environmentally sound product end-of-life management and recycling to producers and consumers.
The Act requires producers of designated products to submit a stewardship plan for approval by the BC Ministry of Environment. All producers are required to have an approved plan and comply with the approved plan in order to sell, offer for sale or distribute the product in BC. In February 2006, the BC government amended the Recycling Regulation by adding the Electronic Product Category to bring computers, desktop printers and televisions under regulation by the legislation.
In April 2008, the Electronic Product Category was expanded to include stereos, cell phones, hand-held devices and other household electronics. In April 2011, the Electronics and Electrical Product Category was expanded to include small appliances and smoke detectors. Electronic manufacturers are required to submit a product stewardship plan to recycle the products sold within the province.