Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry

  Toggle the submenu Can I continue to submit paper reports, including paper manifests, on January 1, 2023? 

  The amended Regulation 347: General – Waste Management requires the regulated community to report through the new electronic Hazardous Waste Program Registry, starting January 1, 2023.

  In exceptional circumstances, if a person believes that submitting a document electronically through the new Registry will result in undue hardship, a request may be submitted to the Ministry for a time-limited approval to submit a paper submission instead. This is outlined in section 27.1 (1) of Regulation 347 that will take effect January 1, 2023, and more information will be made available by the Ministry in the future.

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Generator , Registry

  Toggle the submenu Will all generators be required to use the new Registry?

  All information required to be reported under the Hazardous Waste Program and Regulation 347: General – Waste Management will need to be submitted through the new Hazardous Waste Program Registry starting January 1, 2023.

  However, the amended Regulation 347: General – Waste Management makes clear that a generator can delegate reporting activities to a service provider, so service providers can submit the required information to the Registry and pay fees on behalf of the generator.

  See FAQ: Where can I find information about the Hazardous Waste Program and associated regulations

  See FAQ: what is delegation?

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registration , Registry

  Toggle the submenu Will I still have to register annually in the new HWP Registry?

  Annual registration will no longer be required. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks removed the annual registration renewal requirement (currently between January 1 and February 15), as per the amended Regulation 347: General – Waste Management. Starting January 1, 2023, registration information will be collected from generators at the time the business has a waste management activity to report in the new Registry, or where a waste generator’s facility-related information is inaccurate or has become outdated.

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry

  Toggle the submenu Where can I find additional information about the HWP Registry? 

  There are several places where you can find more information on the HWP Registry: 

  1. Visit our Hazardous Waste Program Registry webpage: https://rpra.ca/programs/hwp/.
  2. Read our HWP Registry-related news articles: https://rpra.ca/category/hazardous-waste/.
  3. Review materials from our learning sessions: https://rpra.ca/learn/hazardous-waste-program-registry/.
  4. Sign up for regular email updates: https://cloud.info.rpra.ca/SignUpPage.

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

  Topic: General , Producer

  Toggle the submenu What do I do if I think a business is a free rider?

  We encourage anybody who believes an entity is a free rider to contact RPRA’s Compliance and Registry Team at 1-833-600-0530 or by emailing registry@rpra.ca with information about that entity. RPRA reviews every free rider allegation that is referred to us.

  We do not share information about our inspections or progress on specific free rider cases.

  See our FAQ to understand “What is a free rider?” and “What is RPRA’s approach to free riders?”

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

  Topic: About the Authority , General , Producer

  Toggle the submenu What is RPRA’s approach to free riders?

  RPRA takes a risk-based and proportional approach to compliance. This approach focuses on the potential risks that arise from non-compliance and assessing those risks to guide the use of compliance tools and the deployment of resources to minimize risk and maximize compliance. Learn more about RPRA’s Risk-Based Compliance Framework.

  As a provincial regulator, we have the following powers to bring non-compliant parties into compliance:

  • Broad inquiry powers including authority to compel documents and data
  • Inspections and investigations
  • Audits
  • Compliance Orders and Administrative Penalty Orders (amounts to be set in regulation once finalized)
  • Prosecution

  RPRA’s primary approach to compliance is through communications (C4C – Communicating for Compliance). RPRA communicates directly with obligated parties and informs them of their requirements and when and how they must be completed. A high degree of compliance is achieved with this approach.

  RPRA considers free riders a high priority to the programs we administer and focuses compliance efforts on bringing free riders into compliance with the regulations.

  See our FAQ to understand “What is a free rider?”, and “What do I do if I think a business is a free rider?”

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

  Topic: General , PRO , Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu What is a free rider?

  Free riders are obligated parties that:

  • Have not registered or reported to RPRA
  • Have not established a collection and management system (if they are so required to), or;
  • Are not operating a collection and management system (if they are so required to).

  See our FAQs to understand “What is RPRA’s approach to free riders?”, and “What do I do if I think a business is a free rider?”

  To note:

  • Some producers only have requirements to register and report. Please refer to your specific program page on our website to understand producer obligations.
  • Collection and management systems may be accomplished by a producer responsibility organization (PRO) on behalf of a producer through contractual arrangements between the producer and PRO. If a PRO is managing a producer’s collection and management requirements, producers must identify that PRO to RPRA.

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• Program: Blue Box , Hazardous and Special Products

  Topic: Hauler , Processor , Producer , Registration , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What is an aerosol container?

  RPRA considers an aerosol container to be a non-refillable receptacle that contains a product and a propellant under pressure, and that is fitted with a release device allowing the contents to be ejected as solid or liquid particles in suspension in a gas, or as a foam, paste, powder, liquid, or gas.

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• Program: Excess Soil

  Topic: Registry , RPRA Program and Registry Fees

  Toggle the submenu If I filed a notice in the Excess Soil Registry and paid fees to RPRA before the temporary suspension of requirements under the Excess Soil Regulation (i.e. prior to April 21, 2022), can I withdraw my notice and receive a refund?

  No, users that filed notices in the Excess Soil Registry and paid the associated Registry fees before the temporary suspension came into effect on April 21, 2022, were complying with the necessary requirements of the regulation. Notices filed before the pause will continue to be recognized after January 1, 2023. No refunds will be issued.

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

  Topic: General , Producer

  Toggle the submenu Who is a consumer under the Batteries, Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Hazardous and Special Products, and Tires Regulations?

  Under the Batteries, EEE, HSP, and Tire Regulations, a consumer is any end user of a product. A consumer includes an individual who obtains the product for the individual’s own use and a business that obtains the product for the business’s own use.

  See our FAQ to understand “Who is a consumer under the Blue Box Regulation?”

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