Frequently Asked Questions

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu My community is not sure whether it wants to participate in the producer-run Blue Box system. Are we required to participate?

  No, First Nations are not required to participate. First Nations can choose if the producer-run Blue Box system is the best option for their community. One of RPRA’s roles in overseeing the Blue Box program is to provide as much information as possible to support a community’s informed decision.

  If your community is still undecided about whether or not to register, we encourage you to reach out to a Compliance Officer at registry@rpra.ca with your questions or to get more information.

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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: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu How can my community change its transition date?

  There is no requirement for a First Nation community to formally change its transition date. If a community is not ready to report and/or participate in the offer process with the PROs by the initial transition date or the date outlined in the Transition Schedule, the community can indicate that to RPRA and we will work with you and the PROs to track when your community is ready to move forward in the process.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu What does a “transition date” mean?

  First Nation communities that currently operate a WDTA Blue Box program and have registered their interest with RPRA in participating in the new producer-run Blue Box program can engage with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to discuss a transition date. The transition date represents the earliest date that the producer responsibility organizations (or PROs) are required to provide collection services on behalf of producers to the community within the transition period (July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025). See the transition schedule here.

  The transition date is not a deadline for a community to accept an offer from the PROs. The date that a community begins to receive collection services will be determined when that community accepts an offer from the PROs.

  If a community’s reporting and offer process extends past its transition date, the PROs are required to provide producer-run Blue Box collection services within three months of the community’s offer acceptance being received in the Registry.

  See FAQ: What is a PRO?

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities , Registration

  Toggle the submenu Does a First Nation need to register with the Authority to receive Blue Box services? And if so, how can a First Nation register?

  First Nation communities interested in receiving producer-run Blue Box services must register with the Authority. To register, communities must submit contact information of the person responsible for waste management in the community using the First Nation community registration form. Once completed, the registration form should be submitted by email to registry@rpra.ca.

  Visit our First Nation webpage for more information.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities , Municipalities , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Do I have to submit the Blue Box Initial and Transition Reports if I submitted my 2020 Datacall?

  Yes, all eligible communities must submit these reports to the Authority. The Datacall is the source of data for determining the net Blue Box system cost and for allocating funding under the Blue Box Program Plan. The Initial and Transition reports are for a separate and distinct program than Datacall and are required under the new Blue Box Regulation, which requires eligible communities to submit these reports.

  While some of the required information in these reports was reported to Datacall, much of the information was not. Where there is overlap between what was reported to Datacall and the information that is required in these reports, please see the guidance below on where to find this information in your Datacall 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.
  • Change Reports will be used by communities when there are changes to the information that they submitted in either the Initial Report or Transition Report. At this time, the requirements and formats for change reports have not yet been established. RPRA will provide guidance in the future.

  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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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities , General , Municipalities , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Why do municipalities and First Nations have to report under the Blue Box Regulation?

  Sections 54 and 55 of the Blue Box Regulation require municipalities and First Nations to submit the information in the Initial Report and Transition Report to the Authority.

  Under the Blue Box Regulation, producers will be fully responsible for the collection and management of Blue Box materials that are supplied into Ontario. To ensure that all communities continue to receive Blue Box collection services, communities will be allocated to producers, or PROs on their behalf, who are obligated to provide collection services. The information that is submitted in the Initial and Transition Reports will be used by PROs to plan for collection in each eligible community.

  The Authority will also use the information provided by municipalities and First Nations to ensure that producers are complying with their collection obligations under the Blue Box Regulation.

  It is important that municipalities and First Nations complete these reports accurately so that all eligible sources (residences, facilities, and public spaces) in their communities continue to receive Blue Box collection after their community transitions to full producer responsibility.

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• Program: Tires

  Topic: Collection systems , First Nation communities , Municipalities

  Toggle the submenu Can a collection site accept more than 10 tires from one person in a single day?

  Yes. However, if a collection site accepts more than 10 tires from a person on a single day, the operator of the site needs to record the person’s name, contact information and the number of tires accepted at the site from that person.

  In their annual performance report, collectors will be asked to report the number of times they accepted more than 10 tires from one person in a single day. The contact information of the person who dropped off the tires must be retained in collectors’ records and produced during any RPRA inspection.

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• Program: Batteries , Blue Box , Hazardous and Special Products , ITT/AV , Lighting , Tires

  Topic: Collection systems , Collector , First Nation communities , Hauler , Management activities , Municipalities , Processor , Retreader

  Toggle the submenu Does RPRA pay incentives for collecting, hauling, and processing materials?

  No. The Authority does not administer contracts or provide incentives. Under the Regulations, producers will either work with a producer responsibility organization (PRO) or work directly with collection sites, haulers, refurbisher’s and/or processors to meet their collection and management requirements. Any reimbursement for services provided towards meeting a producers’ collection and management requirements will be determined through commercial contracts.

  To discuss any payment, contact your service provider or a PRO. RPRA does not set the terms of the contractual arrangements between PROs and producers.

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