Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

• Toggle the submenu What is the Far North Boundary?

  The Far North Boundary is the line between Ontario’s Far North and all communities south of the Far North.

  Under the Far North Act, 2010, “Far North” is defined as the portion of Ontario that lies north of the land consisting of:

  • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park;
  • Red Lake Forest, Trout Lake Forest, Lac Seul Forest and Caribou Forest;
  • Wabakimi Provincial Park, and;
  • Ogoki Forest, Kenogami Forest, Hearst Forest, Gordon Cosens Forest and Cochrane-Moose River.

  See the Far North of Ontario Map.

  Also see our FAQ: ‘What producer-run recycling programs can remote or fly-in First Nation communities in Ontario access?’

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu What do I do if my First Nation wants to join the Blue Box program but is not listed on the transition schedule?

  If your First Nation is located south of the Far North and wants to join the Blue Box program, they first need to complete a registration form and submit it to registry@rpra.ca.

  First Nations that are not listed on the transition schedule and have registered to participate in the Blue Box program are eligible to receive Blue Box collection service or funding starting January 1, 2026 at the earliest.

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• Program: Hazardous and Special Products

  Topic: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu What producer-run recycling programs can remote or fly-in First Nation communities in Ontario access?

  All remote and fly-in First Nation communities can access the Hazardous Special Products (HSP, formerly known as Household Hazardous Waste) producer-run program.

  All other producer-run recycling programs are only accessible to communities south of the Far North Boundary.

  For more information about recycling programs in First Nation Communities, visit our Recycling in First Nation Communities webpage.

  Also see our FAQ: ‘What is the Far North Boundary?’

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu My community does not have a Blue Box program and would like to participate in the producer-run Blue Box system. Where do I start?

  If your community is south of the Far North boundary, you can complete the registration form and email it to registry@rpra.ca to express your community’s interest in participating in the producer-run Blue Box program. A Compliance Officer will reach out to you to discuss the reporting and offer process, confirm the information provided in the registration form, and answer any questions you may have.

  Communities in this situation are eligible to receive recycling collection services starting January 1, 2026.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Collection systems , Management activities , PRO , Producer

  Toggle the submenu What has replaced the Rule Creation process in the amended Blue Box Regulation?

  With the removal of the rule creation process and allocation table as the tools to create and maintain the Blue Box collection system, the amended regulation now requires producer responsibility organizations (PROs) to submit a report that outlines how they will operate the Blue Box collection system on behalf of producers, ensuring that materials are collected from all eligible communities (i.e., communities outside of the Far North) across the province.

  Circular Materials Ontario and Ryse Solutions Ontario PROs submitted a Blue Box PRO initial report to RPRA on July 1, 2022, that provides the following information:

  • A description of how they will comply with the collection requirements of the regulation, including any agreements between themselves and any other PRO
  • A detailed description of how they will make collected Blue Box materials available for processing, how materials will be processed, and the expected location of receiving facilities in Ontario
  • A description of how they will comply with the promotion and education requirements of the regulation

  You can read the news release and the initial report here.

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• Program: Hazardous and Special Products

  Topic: Collection systems , Producer

  Toggle the submenu As an HSP producer of mercury-containing barometers, thermometers or thermostats, what are my collection requirements?

  As of October 1, 2021, producers of mercury-containing barometers, thermometers and thermostats must provide a call-in service number for communities to call to request a pickup if requested by the following representatives:

  • a council of the band
  • a municipality not located in the Far North
  • a territorial district that is not located in the Far North
  • a depot owned or operated by the Crown not in the Far North

  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.

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• Program: Hazardous and Special Products

  Topic: Collection systems , Producer

  Toggle the submenu As an HSP producer of refillable propane containers, what are my collection requirements?

  As of October 1, 2021, producers of refillable propane containers must establish and operate a call-in collection number for the following representatives to request a pickup:

  • a council of the band
  • a municipality that is not located in the Far North
  • a reserve in the Far North
  • a territorial district that is not located in the Far North
  • a depot where refillable propane containers are collected, that is owned or operated by the Crown in right of Ontario and that is not located in the Far North

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• Program: Hazardous and Special Products

  Topic: Collection systems , Producer

  Toggle the submenu As an HSP producer of oil filters, oil containers, antifreeze, pesticides, non-refillable pressurized containers, refillable pressurized containers, solvents, paints or coatings, what are my collection requirements?

  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?“

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Collection systems , Management activities , PRO , Producer

  Toggle the submenu What is a rule creator?

  The rule and allocation table creation process has been removed from the Blue Box Regulation and is therefore no longer required to create and maintain the system for collecting Blue Box materials across the province, as per regulatory amendments made by the government on April 14, 2022. As such, rule creators are no longer applicable under the regulation. Learn more about the amendments.

  To replace these tools, the amended regulation now requires PROs to submit a report that outlines how they will operate the Blue Box collection system on behalf of producers, ensuring that materials are collected from all eligible communities (i.e., communities outside of the Far North) across the province. Learn more about what PROs need to include in the report.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities , General , Municipalities , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What reports need to be completed by municipalities and First Nations under the Blue Box Regulation, and who needs to complete these reports?

  There are three reports for eligible communities under the Blue Box Regulation: an Initial Report, a Transition Report and Change Reports.

  • The Initial Report will be submitted by all communities in 2021. It will provide an overview of the communities and of the WDTA Blue Box program that operates in that community.
  • The Transition Report will be submitted by communities 2 years prior to their transition year. It provides more detailed information about the WDTA Blue Box program that operates in the community.
  • Local municipalities and local services boards are not required to submit Change Reports to update information provided in their Initial or Transition Reports. Any changes should be addressed with Circular Materials in their role as the Administrator of the common collection system. Contact operations@circularmaterials.ca for more information.

  These reports need to be completed by all eligible communities under the Blue Box Regulation.

  An eligible community is a local municipality or local services board area that is not located in the Far North, or a reserve that is registered by a First Nation with the Authority and not located in the Far North.

  • The Far North has the same meaning as in the Far North Act, 2010. To determine whether a community is in the Far North, use this link.
  • A local municipality means a single-tier municipality or a lower-tier municipality. A local services board has the same meaning as “Board” in the Northern Services Boards Act.
  • A First Nation means a council of the Band as referred to in subsection 2(1) of the Indian Act (Canada).

  If you are an upper-tier municipality or waste association, these reports must be submitted separately for each eligible community in your program.

  Visit the Municipal and First Nation webpages for more information.

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