Frequently Asked Questions

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: First Nation communities

  Toggle the submenu When will a First Nation that is registered in the Blue Box program start receiving service or funding?

  There are two steps that need to be completed for a First Nation to receive service or funding beginning on their requested transition date:

  • The PRO, Circular Materials, must submit the offer through the Registry for the First Nation to sign six months before the transition date.
  • The First Nation must sign the offer three months before the transition date.

  If these two steps are not completed by the required timelines, service or funding will begin three months after the offer is signed by the First Nation.

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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 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 for First Nations registered to participate in the Blue Box Program?

  A First Nation’s transition date represents the earliest date that producers are required to provide the community with either Blue Box service or funding within the Blue Box program. Transition dates cannot be moved or changed.

  A First Nation’s community name, reserve name(s) and transition date appearing on the transition schedule means it is an eligible community to receive Blue Box collection service or funding between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025. The transition schedule was amended for the last time on February 23, 2024. There will be no more additions to the transition schedule.

  Related FAQs:

  • ‘When will a First Nation that is registered in the Blue Box program start receiving service or funding?’
  • ‘What do I do if my First Nation wants to join the Blue Box program but is not listed on the transition schedule?’

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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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