From March 10, 2022, to April 25, 2022, RPRA consulted on the proposed 2022 RRCEA program fees for producers and revised General Fee-Setting Policy. Producers obligated under Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA) regulations include producers of:
- Batteries
- Blue Box materials
- Hazardous and Special Products (HSP)
- Information Technology, Telecommunications and Audio-Visual (ITT/AV) equipment
- Lighting
- Tires
Producers pay RRCEA program fees to RPRA annually to cover its costs related to building and operating the registry, providing service to registrants, and compliance and enforcement activities.
RPRA hosted two webinars to present the fee proposal, answer questions and gain feedback from registrants and other interested stakeholders. RPRA appreciates the thoughtful feedback provided and considered each submission in finalizing the 2022 RRCEA Program Fees and General Fee-Setting Policy. Read the consultation report.
The fees were approved on May 19, 2022. View the 2022 RRCEA Program Fee Schedule.
Consultation outcomes
In response to stakeholder feedback, the fixed small producer fee was kept at $75 for all programs, rather than increasing to $100 as was proposed for consultation.
The fees for HSP Categories C (mercury-containing barometers, thermometers, thermostats), and D (fertilizers) were kept at 2021 rates rather than increasing as proposed for consultation to reflect both stakeholder feedback and new information received since the start of the consultation period.
As a result of stakeholder feedback and new information received since the start of the consultation, the final fee rate for lighting producers was set at 22 cents/kg, rather than 33 cents/kg as was proposed for consultation
The final fees and fee rates proposed for producers of HSP in categories A, B and E, tires, batteries, ITT/AV and Blue Box materials did not change from what was proposed for consultation.
The revised General Fee-Setting Policy did not change from what was proposed.
In response to stakeholder feedback, additional detail on the cost allocation methodology, and all program cost recovery targets will be provided proactively in future fees consultations.
Information for Lighting Producers
Lighting producers obligated under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) Regulation are required to register with RPRA by November 30, 2022. As part of the registration process, producers are required to submit supply data and pay the associated fee.
We will provide further information about the registration and reporting process as it becomes available. If you have questions about your lighting obligations under the EEE Regulation, contact our Compliance and Registry Team at registry@rpra.ca or toll free at 1-833-600-0530.
Background
2022 fees for users of the Excess Soil Registry were consulted on and set in November 2021 and therefore were not included in this consultation.
As in previous years, producers obligated under RRCEA regulations are required to report their supply data and pay the associated fees to RPRA in 2022. This is the first year that Lighting producers are required to report and pay fees to RPRA. RPRA will communicate directly with producers of all programs via email on how and when they can complete their reporting requirements and pay their program fee.
This proposal outlined the proposed 2022 RRCEA Program Fees, revisions to the General Fee-Setting Policy, and gave an overview of RPRA’s Cost Allocation Methodology. The proposed fees were developed on estimates of the number of producers and supply totals using the best information available at the time.
Third-party review of the RPRA’s Cost Allocation Methodology and Fee Model
RPRA engaged Optimus SBR, a consulting firm with extensive experience in fee setting and design, to conduct a third-party review of its Cost Allocation Methodology and Fee Model in fall 2021 to identify opportunities for enhancement.
Optimus SBR’s review included:
- A jurisdictional review of comparator organizations
- Assessment of the Cost Allocation Methodology RPRA used in 2020 and 2021
- Assessment of the Fee Model RPRA used in 2020 and 2021
- Assessment of the General Fee Setting Policy
Optimus SBR’s findings and recommendations concluded:
- RPRA’s fee-setting principles are consistent with recognized best practices. However, those principles could be condensed and clarified
- RPRA’s Cost Allocation Methodology is reasonable
- RPRA Fee Model is reasonable
For more information, read the Project Overview, Scope and Summary of Findings of Optimus SBR’s review of RPRA’s Cost Allocation Methodology and Fee Model.