Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer

  Toggle the submenu What documentation will RPRA accept to verify a producer’s allowable deduction for Blue Box materials that are deposited into a receptacle at a location that is a) not an eligible source, and b) where the product related to the Blue Box material was supplied and used or consumed?

  RPRA will accept a report that substantiates the total Blue Box material weight deductions based on the customer’s recorded response to “Will you eat in or take out?” for all locations. Reports must be retained either in electronic or paper format for five years and be provided upon request for verification by RPRA.

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

  Topic: PRO , Producer , Registry , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What is a brand supply list?

  A brand supply list is a list of brands of obligated products that a producer supplies to consumers in Ontario. A producer must provide a brand supply list that makes up their supply data annually to RPRA. Each program has different requirements regarding how a producer must submit a brand supply list. For more information, consult the applicable programs’ walkthrough guide or contact RPRA’s Compliance and Registry Team at 1-833-600-0530 or by emailing registry@rpra.ca.

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: Carrier , Generator , Receiver , Registry

  Toggle the submenu What does a receiver do if they receive a shipment in 2023 that has a paper manifest? 

  If a receiver receives a shipment with a shipment date in the 2023 calendar year that has an accompanying paper manifest and they have not been notified by the generator or carrier that there is permission to submit paper for that particular shipment, they should contact the generator and/or carrier to explain that the shipment needs to be completed through RPRA’s new Hazardous Waste Program Registry. The paper manifest would not be accepted by the ministry and does not meet the regulatory requirements under the amended Regulation 347: General – Waste Management. Starting January 1, 2023, reporting on waste management activities, including manifesting, is to be completed through RPRA’s new digital registry. 

  Note that there may be an exceptional and rare circumstance where a generator has received approval from the ministry to submit paper manifests to the ministry for a time-limited period. The generator or carrier should make the receiver aware of this undue hardship approval. This undue hardship provision is outlined in section 27.1 (1) of Regulation 347 that will take effect January 1, 2023. In this exceptional circumstance, the 2023 shipment can proceed through a paper manifest. 

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: Registry , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Is the HWP Registry open?

  Starting January 1, obligated parties are required to report on waste management activities, including manifesting, through the online HWP Registry instead of reporting through the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Park’s Hazardous Waste Information Network (HWIN) and instead of using paper manifests. 

  The regulated community no longer has access to HWIN to manage their accounts and pay fees associated with activities from 2022 or earlier.

  If necessary, the ministry will contact generators to address balances remaining in HWIN pre-paid accounts from 2022.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: PRO , Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What are certified compostable products and packaging?

  In the Blue Box Regulation, certified compostable products and packaging is defined as material that:

  • is only capable of being processed by composting, anaerobic digestion or other processes that result in decomposition by bacteria or other living organisms, and
  • is certified compostable by an international, national, or industry standard that is listed in this procedure.

  All certified compostable products and packaging reported by producers must be certified under one of the following standards:

  • CAN/BNQ 0017-088: Specifications for Compostable Plastics
  • ISO 17088: Specifications for compostable plastics
  • ASTM D6400: Standard Specification for Labeling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
  • ASTM D6868: Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
  • EN 13432: Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation – Test scheme and evaluation criteria for the final acceptance of packaging

   

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer

  Toggle the submenu What is a newspaper?

  A newspaper is a regularly (usually daily or weekly) printed document consisting of large, folded, stapled or unstapled, sheets of paper containing news reports, articles, photographs, and advertisements. Newspapers include broadsheet, tabloid, and free newspaper categories.

  Newspapers have traditionally been published in print on low-grade paper known as newsprint. However, not all documents printed on newsprint are considered newspapers. For example, flyers printed on newsprint quality paper supplied separately from newspapers are not newspapers for the purpose of supply data reporting under the Blue Box Regulation.

  For the purpose of supply reporting, newspapers include any supplemental advertisements and inserts that are provided with/inserted in them (e.g., a flyer or circular that is placed within the folds of a newspaper). Inserts may be composed of any material including, but not limited to, paper. See the FAQ: How do newspaper producers report their supply of newspapers?

  Note that magazines are not considered newspapers; a magazine is a periodical publication containing articles and illustrations, typically covering a particular subject or area of interest, and printed on high-quality paper.

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry , RPRA Program and Registry Fees

  Toggle the submenu Will HWP fees be increasing from what we currently pay?

  RPRA consulted industry stakeholders on the 2023 HWP Registry Fees from October 6 to November 21, 2022 and, based on the feedback received, the HWP Registry Fees have been set on the following basis:

  • fees will be charged to generators only, aligning with the current Hazardous Waste Program fee structure
  • the manifest fee will be set at $5, the same rate as today, and will be charged per manifest
  • the tonnage fee has been set at $27.50, instead of the current $30 fee, and will only apply to shipped hazardous waste and hazardous waste that is disposed on site which remains the same as today’s framework
  • there will be no annual registration fee
  • all existing fee exemptions will be maintained, as per Ontario Regulation 323/22: Subject Waste Program

  View the 2023 HWP Registry Fees Schedule

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry , RPRA Program and Registry Fees

  Toggle the submenu Is there a fee to set up an account in the HWP Registry?

  No, there is no fee to create an account in the HWP Registry. Fees will be tied to the activities that generators report on or that are reported on their behalf (e.g., manifests and on-site storage, processing and disposal).

  View the 2023 HWP Registry Fees Schedule

  See FAQ: When will I have to pay fees?

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry , RPRA Program and Registry Fees

  Toggle the submenu Will I pay my fees using a prepaid account like in HWIN?

  No. Fees will be invoiced monthly and will include applicable fees for manifests completed during the previous month. Fees for onsite disposal will be invoiced at the time the disposal activity report is completed. 

  See FAQ: What payment methods are available in the Registry?

  See FAQ: Who pays RPRA’s HWP Registry fees?  

  See FAQ: What information is included on an invoice for HWP Registry fees? 

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry , RPRA Program and Registry Fees

  Toggle the submenu When will I have to pay HWP Registry fees?

  Fees are tied to the activities that generators report on or that are reported on their behalf by authorized generator delegates (AGDs) (e.g., manifests and on-site storage, processing and disposal). Fees will be invoiced on the first day of each month and will include all manifests completed in the previous month.

  RPRA consulted industry stakeholders on the 2023 HWP Registry Fees from October 6 to November 21, 2022 and, based on the feedback received, the HWP Registry Fees have been set on the following basis:

  • fees is charged to generators only, aligning with the current Hazardous Waste Program fee structure
  • the manifest fee has been set at $5, the same rate as today, and will be charged per manifest
  • the tonnage fee has been set at $27.50, instead of the past $30 fee, and will only apply to shipped hazardous waste and hazardous waste that is disposed on site which remains the same as today’s framework
  • there is no annual registration fee
  • all existing fee exemptions are maintained, as per Ontario Regulation 323/22: Subject Waste Program

  View the 2023 HWP Registry Fees Schedule

  See FAQ: Will I pay my fees using a prepaid account like HWIN?

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