RPRA conditionally approves Continuous Improvement Fund’s proposal to wind up early and transfer its surplus funds to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario

RPRA has conditionally approved the Continuous Improvement Fund’s (CIF) proposal to windup early at the end of 2022 instead of 2023 and transfer approximately $9.64M in surplus funds currently designated for disbursement to individual municipalities, recycling associations and First Nations communities, to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) in order to support communities in transitioning their Blue Box programs to Ontario’s new extended producer regulatory framework and other waste-related matters. Read the approval letter.

RPRA’s approval is conditional on the implementation of an opt-out process, which will allow any municipality, recycling association, and First Nations community to choose to receive their share of surplus funds rather than have their funds remitted to AMO upon the wind up of the CIF.

RPRA staff are developing the details of the opt-out process and timeline and will consult with CIF and AMO to finalize the terms. Details of the process will be shared once they are finalized.

The previously approved CIF Windup Plan continues to be in effect until AMO and the CIF Windup Committee confirm its acceptance of the opt-out process condition of approval required by RPRA.

In approving CIF’s proposal to amend its Windup Plan, RPRA assessed whether the proposal was compliant with the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016 (WDTA) and the Minister’s directions and consistent with RPRA’s Wind-Up Guide.

Between October 4, 2022, and November 4, 2022, RPRA and the CIF jointly consulted on the CIF Windup Plan Amendment proposal with municipalities, First Nations, and recycling associations that participate in the Blue Box Program, as well as other interested stakeholders. Visit the consultation page of RPRA’s website to learn more about the consultation process and to read the consultation report summarizing the stakeholder feedback received.

Visit the CIF website for information on the implementation of the windup plan, including the Windup Plan Amendment proposal, or contact the CIF for any operational inquiries.