Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) is a non-crown corporation created under the Waste Diversion Act (WDA) on June 27, 2002. WDO was established to develop, implement and operate waste diversion programs for a wide range of materials. The Minister of the Environment has designated Blue Box Waste, Used Tires, Used Oil Material, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste under the WDA. In April 2006, the Minister set aside the designation of Used Oil Material.
The Blue Box Program Plan was approved by the Minister on December 22, 2003 and commenced on February 1, 2004. The first phase of the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program Plan was approved by the Minister on February 19, 2008 and commenced on July 1, 2008. The next phase, referred to as the Consolidated Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste Program Plan, was approved on September 22, 2009 and will commence on July 1, 2010. The first phase of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Program Plan was approved by the Minister on July 10, 2008 and commenced on April 1, 2009 while the second phase was approved on August 14, 2009 and commenced on April 1, 2010. The Used Tires Program Plan was approved on April 9, 2009 and commenced on September 1, 2009.