Government Approves New Regulation for Batteries
The Government of Ontario has finalized a new regulation for batteries under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, establishing individual producer responsibility requirements to increase the number of batteries that are reused, refurbished and recycled, diverting them from landfills.
RPRA (the Authority) is the regulator established by the Government of Ontario to enforce the requirements of the new regulatory framework, including the Batteries Regulation. The Authority is also responsible for providing information and supporting businesses in understanding and complying with the regulatory requirements.
The new regulation makes batteries the second material after tires to be transitioned to Ontario’s new individual producer responsibility regulatory framework.
Individual producer responsibility makes producers accountable for their products and packaging once consumers are finished with them; sets mandatory and enforceable targets for resource recovery; and gives producers choices for resource recovery services in a competitive market.
The Batteries Regulation applies to producers of single-use (primary) and rechargeable batteries that are 5 kg or less and sold separately in Ontario (i.e. not embedded in products). The Batteries Regulation will require battery producers to:
- Establish and operate systems to collect and manage batteries discarded by consumers starting July 1, 2020
- Register with the Authority on or before November 30, 2020
- Report annually on performance to the Authority starting April 30, 2021
Battery haulers, processors and refurbishers will also be required to register with the Authority on or before March 31, 2020.
Producer responsibility organizations will need to register within 30 days of being retained by a producer. To assist producers in identifying the PROs they want to work with to meet their collection and management requirements that begin on July 1, 2020, PROs are encouraged to register with the Authority as soon as possible.
Battery collectors are not required to register with the Authority.
Read more about the new Batteries Regulation
The current monopolistic recycling program for single-use batteries operated by Stewardship Ontario winds-up on June 30, 2020. Stewardship Ontario will continue to operate the current program without interruption until that time.
Starting July 1, 2020, the Authority will be responsible for overseeing the new resource recovery system for single-use and rechargeable batteries that are 5 kg or less and sold separately in Ontario.
Visit our Batteries page to learn more about the new Regulation and sign up for one of our upcoming learning events that will help those affected by the new regulation to meet their obligation and participate in the new market for recycling, reusing and refurbishing batteries.