Frequently Asked Questions

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Collection systems

  Toggle the submenu Our municipality’s Blue Box program accepts books, pots and pans, and/or zipper-type flexible plastic food storage bags for collection. Will they be accepted for collection in the producer-run Blue Box program?

  Under the WDTA Blue Box program, municipalities could choose to accept these materials in their programs. This choice varied between municipalities.

  Under the producer-run Blue Box program, none of these materials are considered obligated Blue Box materials. The Blue Box Regulation specifically states that hard or soft cover books or products made from flexible plastic that is ordinarily used for the containment, protection and or handling of food, such as cling wrap, sandwich bags or freezer bags are not Blue Box materials. Pots and pans do not meet the definition of Blue Box material under the Regulation.

  Producers are not obligated to collect or manage the recovery of these materials.

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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: Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Our institution has implemented a source-separation program to capture and divert recyclable material from landfill. Why are we obligated to report to the RPRA when we’re already recycling our waste?

  Eligible Ontario institutions are obligated to manage their waste under several regulations, each of which imposes different obligations and requirements.

  Under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act, Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sector organizations have obligations to establish and operate an internal collection system that separates the waste generated on-site into different material categories (i.e., a source-separation program).

  The Blue Box Regulation, under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, obligates producers of Blue Box material to collect, manage, and report on the materials that they supply to consumers both on-site and off-site.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What must a producer demonstrate to deduct materials that are supplied, used, or consumed and disposed of at a non-eligible source (e.g., an arena, a college or university campus, or a food court)?

  Under the Blue Box Regulation, allowable deductions for producers include Blue Box materials that are deposited into a receptacle at a location that is not an eligible source and where the product related to the Blue Box material was supplied to a consumer and used or consumed.

  This applies to locations such as arenas, college and university campuses and food courts.

  A producer must demonstrate the following with regards to an allowable deduction:

  1. They are the obligated producer for the materials for which they are claiming a deduction, and the weight of those materials was included in their reported supply data.
  2. The materials were supplied onsite to a consumer for personal, family or household purposes.
  3. The same materials that were supplied, were used or consumed onsite and disposed of in a receptacle onsite.

  Blue Box materials that were disposed of in a building’s receptacles but were not supplied and used or consumed within that physical building are not deductible. This deduction applies to all Blue Box materials supplied for personal, family or household, but not those supplied for business purposes. This deduction is not available for beverage containers.

  This does not reduce the obligation of a producer to provide complete and accurate supply data or limit the ability of an Authority inspector to review the data and related records for the purpose of determining compliance.

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• Program: Tires

  Topic: Producer , Registration , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu How do I determine if I am an exempt tire producer?

  Producers with a collection requirement under 1000 kg are exempt from registering and reporting to RPRA in that calendar year. Producers who meet this exemption are, however, required to retain records for five years.

  To view your collection requirement, log into your Registry account, download a copy of your 2022 Tires Report and review the section with your minimum collection requirements for 2023.

  Producers with a 2023 collection requirement under 1000 kg should contact our Compliance and Registry Team at 833-600-0530 or registry@rpra.ca to determine if their registration should be deactivated.

  To calculate your collection requirement for a given year, use the formula below:

  (Y3 + Y4 +Y5) / 3 x 0.85

  Y3 – the weight of tires supplied in the calendar year three years prior to the collection year

  Y4 – the weight of tires supplied in the calendar year four years prior to the collection year

  Y5 – the weight of tires supplied in the calendar year five years prior to the collection year

  For example, to calculate your 2024 collection requirement, you would input your 2021 (Y3), 2020 (Y4) and 2019 (Y5) supply data.

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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 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: ITT/AV

  Topic: Producer , Registry , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu For annual supply reporting verification, how do I know if I am a small or large ITT/AV producer?

  For the purposes of ITT/AV supply reporting verification:

  • “Large ITT/AV producer” means an ITT/AV producer with a minimum management requirement greater than or equal to 200,000 kilograms in the previous calendar year.

  To view your management requirements, log into your Registry account, download a copy of your previous year’s Supply Report and review the section with your minimum management requirements for your reporting year.

  Beginning in 2023, only large producers are required to submit a Supply Data Verification Report. Small producers will no longer be required to submit a verification report but will be subject to inspections. Review the Registry Procedure – Verification and Audit for more information.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Producer , Registry , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu For annual supply reporting verification, how do I know if I am a small or large battery producer?

  For the purposes of battery supply reporting verification:

  • “Large single-use battery producer” means a battery producer with a minimum management requirement greater than or equal to 50,000 kilograms of single-use batteries in the previous calendar year.
  • “Large rechargeable battery producer” means a battery producer with a minimum management requirement greater than or equal to 5,000 kilograms of rechargeable batteries in the previous calendar year.

  To view your management requirements, log into your Registry account, download a copy of your previous year’s Supply Report and review the section with your minimum management requirements for your reporting year.

  Beginning in 2023, only large producers are required to submit a Supply Data Verification Report. Small producers will no longer be required to submit a verification report but will be subject to inspections. Review the Registry Procedure – Verification and Audit for more information.

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• Program: Excess Soil

  Topic: Registry , Regulation , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Do the amendments to the Excess Soil Regulation made in 2022 change anything for me?

  In December 2022, the Government of Ontario finalized amendments to O. Reg. 406/19: On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation (Excess Soil Regulation) and the Rules for Soil Management and Excess Soil Quality Standards (Soil Rules), which came into effect January 1, 2023.

  If a project triggers the filing requirements under the Excess Soil Regulation, the process for filing notices has not changed.
  However, the amended regulation may affect the types of projects for which a notice is required to be filed through the Excess Soil Registry.

  The two key amendments made to the regulation mean:

  • Reuse planning requirements are not triggered for projects defined as “low-risk project areas”, being a property at which the current or last property use was agricultural or other, residential, parkland or institutional (as defined under O. Reg. 153/04), that would otherwise have been triggered to complete reuse planning requirements as a result of being located within an area of settlement and removing at least 2,000m3 of excess soil. Other triggers for reuse planning may still apply.
  • The limit on the maximum size of soil storage piles (previously 2,500 m3) has been removed. Other soil storage rules would continue to apply, including the requirement to prevent any adverse effects.

  If you have questions about the Excess Soil Regulation or the amendments, contact the ministry at MECP.LandPolicy@ontario.ca.

  See our FAQ to see “Who needs to file notices?”

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