Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

Program: Blue Box , Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Collection systems , PRO , Processor , Producer

Paints, pesticides, solvents fertilizers obligated under the HSP Regulation along with their primary packaging must be accepted at collection sites collecting the corresponding material. For instance, empty paint cans and pesticide aerosols obligated under the HSP Regulation must be accepted at collection sites collecting paint and pesticides.

See our FAQ to understand “Under the HSP Regulation, is the packaging of antifreeze, pesticides, solvents, paints and coatings obligated?” and “Are containers that are obligated under the HSP Regulation obligated as Blue Box materials?“
Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Producer
The following materials include the product’s primary packaging:

Antifreeze

Paints and coatings

Pesticides

Solvents

Note: This does not include primary packaging made of corrugated and boxboard boxes, plastic film, shrink wrap or printed materials.

Oil containers, solvents, paints and coatings, fertilizers and pesticides continue to only be obligated when supplied in a container that has a capacity is less than 30 litres or 30 kilograms.

All antifreeze supplied – regardless of container size – must be reported. However, the antifreeze container is only obligated when supplied in a container that has a capacity that is less than 30 litres or 30 kilograms.

See our FAQ to understand “Are containers that are obligated under the Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) Regulation obligated as Blue Box materials?”
Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Producer
There have been some key changes to the material definitions which may affect what a producer is obligated for and should be considered if using data previously reported:

Antifreeze now includes factory fill

Solvents that are captured by the definition are obligated regardless of how they are marketed

Paints and coatings now include:

All non-pesticide marine paint products, regardless of whether it was contained in an aerosol container or not

Aerosol automotive paints

Aerosol craft paints

Aerosol industrial paints

Paints and coatings meeting the definition of this material and being supplied to IC&I are now obligated

Refillable Pressurized Containers supplied to IC&I are now obligated
Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Producer , Promotion and Education
Beginning October 1, 2021, producers, or PROs acting on their behalf, of oil containers, antifreeze, pesticides, solvents, paints and coatings are required to establish and operate a promotion and education program including the following:

Promote their collection and management services with respect to the type of HSP they are obligated for

Provide the following information on a website with respect to that type of HSP:

the location of each HSP collection site established or operated by the producer that is accessible to the public and the types of HSP accepted at each site

the location and date of each HSP collection event held by the producer and the types of HSP accepted at each event

a description of the collection services provided by the producer, other than HSP collection sites and HSP collection events

a description of how the producer manages that type of HSP after it is collected

Create promotional and educational materials with respect to that type of HSP that include the following:

the address of the website

a description of how that type of HSP is collected and managed

The producer shall make the promotional and educational materials available to retailers that supply that type of HSP, municipal governments and Indigenous communities, and shall solicit and consider feedback on how the promotional and educational materials can be improved

The producer shall promote each HSP collection event for that type of HSP in the local municipality or territorial district where it will be held for at least one week prior to the date of the event using a combination of two or more forms of media, including but not limited to:

local print publications

local print media

local radio

local signage or social media
Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Management activities , Producer
As of October 1, 2021, producers, or PROs acting on their behalf, are required to establish and operate a system for managing HSP by satisfying their management requirements as follows:

All oil containers, antifreeze, refillable pressurized containers, solvents, paints and coatings picked up from a collection site must be processed within three months from the date of the pickup

Producers of pesticides must ensure that pesticides are properly disposed of at an HSP disposal facility registered with the Authority no later than three months after the day the pesticides are collected

Producers must ensure that materials are processed by an HSP processor registered with the Authority. On and after January 1, 2023, producers or PROs on behalf of producers shall ensure that the HSP is processed by an HSP processor at a facility in respect of which the HSP processor reported an average recycling efficiency rate for that type of HSP that is at least the percentage set out in the table below

Type of HSP Average Recycling Efficiency Rate (RER)

Antifreeze 90%

Oil Containers 95%

Paints and Coatings 75%

Refillable Pressurized Containers 95%

Solvents 10%
Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Collection systems , Producer
From October 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, producers are required to establish the following:

Collection sites – maintain at least the same number of sites that producers had at the end of the MHSW Program

Collection events – make best efforts to hold the same number of events in each community as in 2020

Call-in Service (only applicable to large producers) – provide a phone number for communities to call to request a pickup (of 100 kg or more) if requested by a council of the band, a municipality or a territorial district not located in the Far North, a depot owned or operated by the Crown not in the Far North.

Large producers shall make reasonable efforts to collect the HSP within one year of being notified by a representative of a council of the band located on a reserve in the Far North.

See our FAQ to understand “Am I a small, large or exempt HSP producer?“
Program: Batteries , Hazardous and Special Products , ITT/AV , Lighting , Tires

Topic: Collection systems , Where to Recycle map

RPRA’s Where to Recycle map displays locations across Ontario where the public can drop off used materials to be recycled, such as batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, antifreeze, pesticides), lighting and tires, for free. Materials collected at these locations are reused, refurbished, recycled, or properly disposed of to help keep them out of landfill, recover valuable resources and protect our environment. Learn more here.
Program: Batteries , Hazardous and Special Products , ITT/AV , Lighting , Tires

Topic: Collection systems , Where to Recycle map

The Where to Recycle map displays locations that the public can drop off used materials to be recycled, such as batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, antifreeze, pesticides), lighting and tires, for free. For specific examples of materials accepted and important information to know before dropping off materials, visit the Where to Recycle map.

Type of HSP	Average Recycling Efficiency Rate (RER)
Antifreeze	90%
Oil Containers	95%
Paints and Coatings	75%
Refillable Pressurized Containers	95%
Solvents	10%

Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Producer , Registration , Reporting

Yes. You are required to submit 2018, 2019 and 2020 supply data when registering with the Authority if you are a producer of oil filters, oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze, pesticides, solvents, paints and coatings, refillable or non-refillable pressurized containers and:

supplied materials between January 1, 2018, and October 31, 2021, and
your average weight of supply is above the threshold stated in the below table

Type of HSP	Average weight of supply in respect of the previous calendar year (tonnes)
Oil Filters	3.5
Antifreeze	20
Oil Containers	2
Paints and Coatings	10
Pesticides	1
Non-refillable Pressurized Containers	3
Refillable Pressurized Containers	8
Solvents	3

Otherwise, a producer must register on or before July 31 of the first calendar year in which the producer exceeds the above threshold. To calculate your average weight of supply, reference the Registration Form.

Program: Hazardous and Special Products

Topic: Producer
The HSP Regulation has 13 materials obligated under it. Materials that share the same obligations have been grouped into categories.

Category A:

Oil Filters: produced and/or arriving in Ontario, and which are for sale, directly or as part of a product
a) a 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,
(b) a filter used for oil, diesel fuel, storage tank fuel, coolant, household furnace fuel, and
(c) a sump type automatic transmission filter

Non-refillable pressurized containers: that are used for the supply of a gas product, including propane, but cannot be refilled

Category B:

Refillable pressurized containers: that are used for the supply of a gas and can be refilled

Antifreeze: that contains ethylene or propylene glycol used or intended for use as a vehicle engine coolant

Oil containers: that have a capacity of 30 litres or less and that was manufactured and used for the purpose of containing new lubricating oil

Solvents: that are used to dissolve or thin a compatible substance, comprised of 10% or more of water-immiscible liquid hydrocarbons, including halogen-substituted liquid hydrocarbons

Paints and coatings: that contain latex, oil or solvent-based architectural coatings whether tinted or untinted, non-pesticide marine paints, paints for automotive craft and industrial applications

Pesticides: fungicides, herbicides or insecticides that are registered under the Pest Control Products Act

Category C:

Barometers: that contain mercury, are intended for residential use and may contain electronic components

Thermometers: that contain mercury, are intended for residential use to measure body or air temperature and may contain electronic component

Thermostats: that contain mercury, and may contain electronic components

Category D:

Fertilizers: any substance or mixture of substances containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or other plant food, manufactured, sold or represented for use as a plant nutrient and regulated under the Fertilizers Act (Canada)

Category E:

Refillable propane containers: A pressurized container that can be refilled, has a water capacity of 109 litres or less and is used only for propane

See our FAQ to understand “Is the packaging of antifreeze, pesticides, solvents, paints and coatings obligated?” and “What are the key changes to antifreeze, solvents, refillable pressurized containers, paints and coatings material definitions?”