Hazardous and Special Products (HSP)

The Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA) designates automotive materials (oil filters, oil containers and antifreeze), solvents, paints and coatings, pesticides, fertilizers, mercury-containing devices (barometers, thermometers and thermostats) and pressurized containers (non-refillable pressurized containers, refillable pressurized containers, refillable propane containers), under Ontario’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulatory framework.

EPR makes producers accountable for their products and packaging once consumers are finished with them; sets mandatory and enforceable requirements for resource recovery; and gives producers choices for resource recovery services in a competitive market.

As of October 1, 2021, following the wind up of the Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) program operated by Stewardship Ontario on September 30, 2021, HSP producers are individually accountable and financially responsible for collecting or managing their products when consumers discard them.

Materials included in the regulation:

Category A

Oil filters
Non-refillable pressurized containers

Category B

Antifreeze
Oil containers
Paints and coatings
Solvents
Pesticides

Category C

Mercury-containing devices
- Barometers
- Thermometers
- Thermostats

Mercury-containing devices were not designated under the MHSW program and are new materials designated under the HSP Regulation.

Category D

Fertilizers

Category E

Refillable propane containers
Refillable pressurized containers – Newly added to Category E as of 2025, under the HSP Regulation

Note that the examples provided under each material category on this webpage are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Please see our Compliance Bulletin – What HSP needs to be reported? for further guidance.

Category A

Non-refillable pressurized containers
- Acetylene cylinders
- CO2 welding gas cylinders
- Helium cylinders
- Propane cylinders
- Refrigerant (e.g., Freon) cylinders
Oil filters
- Diesel fuel filters
- Spin-on style filter or element-style fluid filter that is sold separately or as part of a product, that is used in hydraulic, transmission or internal combustion engine applications
- Oil filters
- Sump type automatic transmission filters

Category B

Oil containers
- Aerosol propelled lubricant
- Chain oil
- Engine Oil
- Gasoline
- Transmission fluid
Antifreeze
- Antifreeze supplied in bulk
- Antifreeze supplied with a new vehicle (i.e., factory fill)
- Concentrated antifreeze
- Premixed antifreeze
Pesticides
- Aerosol pesticides
- Liquid pesticides
- Solid pesticides
Solvents
- 3-in-1 multi-purpose oil
- Acetone
- Degreasers
- Penetrating oil
- Toluene
Paints and coatings
- Aerosol paint
- Automotive paints in aerosol
- Furniture paint
- Interior and exterior paints and stains (tinted and untinted)

Category C

Mercury-containing barometers
Mercury-containing thermometers
Mercury-containing thermostats

Category D

N-P-K fertilizers
Micronutrient fertilizers
Plant growth regulators
Microbial supplements

Category E

Refillable pressurized containers
- Beverage CO2 cylinders
- Medical gas cylinders
- Nitrogen cylinders
- Refrigerant (e.g., Freon) cylinders
- Scuba diving oxygen tanks
Refillable propane containers
- BBQ propane tanks
- Cylinders for propane appliances
- Refillable camping cylinders

Category A

Non-refillable pressurized containers
- Cylinders that must be punctured for use, such as a small CO2 cylinder
- Cylinders that use gas only as a propellant for another product
- Fire extinguishers
- Pressurized containers with a water capacity greater than 109 litres
Oil filters
Air filters
Gasoline fuel filters
Sock-type filters

Category B

Oil containers
- Brake fluid
- Cleaning/flushing fluids for motors/equipment
- Grease
- Hydraulic jack oil
- Oil treatment
Antifreeze
- Air brake antifreeze
- Antifreeze not containing ethylene or propylene glycol
- Fuel (gasoline & diesel) antifreeze
- Plumbing antifreeze
- Vehicle windshield antifreeze
Pesticides
- Commercial, agricultural, and restricted classifications registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada)
- Insect repellents intended for personal use
- Pet products
- Pool chemicals
- Products regulated under the Food and Drugs Act (Canada)
Solvents
- Fuels
Paints and coatings
- Non-aerosol automotive paint
- Non-aerosol craft paint
- Non-aerosol paint for industrial applications
- Paints or wood preservatives registered as a pesticide under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada)

Category C

Mercury-containing products other than barometers, thermometers, and thermostats.

Category D

Fertilizer used for agricultural purposes
Fertilizer used for commercial purposes
Fertilizer supplied in a container with a capacity greater than 30 litres or 30 kilograms

Category E

Refillable pressurized containers
- Cylinders that must be punctured for use, such as a small CO2 cylinder
- Pressurized containers with a water capacity greater than 109 litres
- Fire extinguishers
- Refillable propane containers
Refillable propane containers
- Cylinders used for other gases
- Propane containers with a water capacity of greater than 109 litres
- Propane containers that cannot be refilled

How does the HSP Regulation affect you?

Click the heading below to learn more about your requirements.

A person is considered a producer under the HSP Regulation if they supply oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze, solvents, paints and coatings, pesticides, pressurized containers (refillable and non-refillable), refillable propane containers, mercury-containing barometers, thermometers or thermostats into Ontario.

Producers of HSP may have different obligations depending on the type and amount of material they supply.

Learn more about producers

A hauler is a person who arranges for the transport of HSP that is used by consumers in Ontario and is destined for processing, reuse, refurbishing or disposal.
A processor is a person that processes HSP used by consumers in Ontario for the purposes of resource recovery.
A disposal facility is a facility where pesticides are disposed.

Learn more about service providers

If you are a First Nation, municipality, retailer or organization that collects HSP whether through a depot, collection events or on-site collection containers, you are not required to register or report under the HSP Regulation as a collector. However, if you are also a producer, hauler, processor or disposal facility, additional responsibilities may apply.

Learn more about collection site operators

A PRO is a business established to contract with producers to provide collection, management and administrative services to help producers meet their regulatory obligations under the HSP Regulation, including:

Arranging the establishment or operation of a collection or management system
Establishing or operating a collection or management system
Implementing a promotion and education program
Preparing and submitting reports

Learn more about PROs

Wind up of the MHSW program

The Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste (MHSW) program was operated by Stewardship Ontario. Industry Stewardship Organizations, Automotive Materials Stewardship, Product Care Association and SodaStream reported under the program. The program ended on September 30, 2021 and was formally terminated on September 11, 2023. On October 1, 2021, HSP moved to the new individual producer responsibility framework.

Learn more