Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Processor

  Toggle the submenu Am I a Blue Box processor?

  You are a Blue Box processor if you process Blue Box material that was supplied to a consumer in Ontario for the purposes of resource recovery.

  For the purpose of resource recovery, processing includes, and is not limited to:

  • Sorting
  • Baling
  • Paper and cardboard shredding
  • Plastic reprocessing, which includes grinding, washing, pelletizing, compounding, etc.
  • Crushed glass reprocessing
  • Aluminum and steel reprocessing

  See our FAQs to understand “Who is a consumer under the Blue Box Regulation”.

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Batteries , Blue Box , Hazardous and Special Products , ITT/AV , Lighting , Tires

  Topic: PRO , Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Can a PRO report on behalf of a producer?

  A producer can grant access to anyone they would like to authorize in their reporting (i.e. Registry) portal. Producer reporting must be done in the producer account and batch data transfers are not accepted.

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Batteries , Blue Box , ITT/AV , Lighting

  Topic: Management activities , Producer

  Toggle the submenu How will the Authority determine a producer is using ‘best efforts’?

  In determining whether an obligated producer used best efforts to meet their management requirements, the Compliance Team will consider whether the producer, acting in good faith, took all reasonable steps to meet the requirements outlined in the applicable regulation.

  For example, best efforts in the context of management requirements may involve a producer regularly monitoring the volume of material being collected and managed, and implementing plans for increasing those volumes if the requirements are unlikely to be met.

  Producers can contact the Compliance Team to ask specific questions about fulfilling their obligations.

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Collection systems , Management activities , PRO , Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu Can a producer change PROs?

  Yes, a producer can change PROs at any time. Producers must notify RPRA of any change in PROs within 30 days of the change.

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Collection systems , General , Management activities , Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Are there are any differences in what needs to be reported between the current Stewardship Ontario program and the new Blue Box Regulation?

  Yes, there are some key changes to the data reported to Stewardship Ontario and what needs to be reported under the new regulation, which may affect what a producer is obligated for and should be considered if using data previously reported to Stewardship Ontario:

  • There are fewer reporting categories than under the Stewardship Ontario program
  • Certified compostable packaging and products now must be reported separately, but this category does not have management requirements
  • There are only two deductions permitted under the Blue Box Regulation, and producers must report total supply and then report any weight to be deducted separately
  • Exemptions are based on tonnage supply under each material category instead of a total supply weight threshold of less than 15 tonnes as in Stewardship Ontario’s program

  See our FAQ to understand “What deductions are available to producers under the Blue Box Regulation?”; “Are there exemptions for Blue Box producers?“; “Are there any differences in Blue Box producer hierarchies between the current Stewardship Ontario program and the new Blue Box Regulation?”; and “Are there are any differences in obligated Blue Box materials between the current Stewardship Ontario program and the new Blue Box Regulation?”

   

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: General , Management activities , Producer , Registration , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu Why do I have to pay the RPRA Registry fee for Blue Box in 2021 if the program doesn’t transition until 2023?

  RPRA’s Registry fees cover the costs related to compliance and enforcement and other activities required to administer the regulations under the RRCEA, and building and operating the Registry.

  The Registry fees cover expenses in a given year (e.g., 2021 fees cover 2021 expenses). 2021 fees for Blue Box cover the Authority’s costs to undertake activities to implement the regulation in 2021, which include:

  • helping obligated parties understand their requirements
  • ensuring producers register and report their supply data by the deadline in the regulation
  • compliance, enforcement, and communication activities

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Management activities , Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What deductions are available to producers under the Blue Box Regulation?

  There are only two allowable deductions for Blue Box materials. There are for materials that are:

  • collected from an eligible source at the time a related product was installed or delivered (e.g., packaging that is removed from the house by a technician installing a new appliance). This is the “installation deduction”.
  • deposited into a receptacle at a location that is collected from a business or institution where Blue Box collection services are not provided under the regulation. This is the “ineligible source deduction” that was expanded by the regulation amendment in July 2023.

  Ineligible source deductions:

  Blue Box Producers may deduct materials that are collected from a business or institution where producers are not required to provide Blue Box collection services. Examples include offices, stores and shopping malls, restaurants, community centres, recreation facilities, sports and entertainment venues, universities and colleges, and manufacturing facilities.

  Producers cannot deduct the following materials collected through the collection systems established under the Blue Box Regulation:

  • Material that is generated at a facility (including multi-residential buildings, retirement homes, long-term care homes and schools).
  • Material that is collected from a residence through a curbside or depot collection service.
  • Material that is collected from a public space (including an outdoor area in a park, playground or sidewalk, or a public transit station).
  • Material collected under an alternative or supplemental collection system.
  • Beverage containers cannot be deducted.

  Materials that are deducted cannot count toward a producer’s management requirement.

  Please see the Reporting Guidance Ineligible Source Deductions for the 2024 Blue Box Supply Report for more information on how to determine and use these deductions.

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu What information do Blue Box producers need to provide when reporting their supply data to RPRA?

  Starting in 2022, producers are required to report their supply data annually to RPRA.

  Each year, producers will need to provide the previous years’ supply data in each of the seven material categories – beverage container, glass material, flexible plastic, rigid plastic, metal material, paper material, and certified compostable products and packaging material – as well as any deductions.

  See our FAQ to understand “What deductions are available to producers under the Blue Box Regulation?”

   

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu What information do Blue Box producers need to provide when registering with RPRA?

  Producers are required to provide the following information when registering with RPRA:

  • Contact information
  • PRO information (if a PRO has been retained at time of reporting), including what services they have retained a PRO for
  • Their 2020 supply data in each of the seven material categories– beverage container, glass material, flexible plastic, metal material, paper material, and certified compostable products and packaging material – as well as any deductions.

  Please note that this information must be submitted to RPRA directly.

  See our FAQ to understand “What deductions are available to producers under the Blue Box Regulation?”

   

  Copy this question to clipboard
• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu When do Blue Box producers need to register with RPRA?

  Producers are required to register with RPRA by October 1, 2021, as outlined in the Blue Box Regulation.

  After this date, new businesses are required to register within 30 days of becoming a producer.

  Copy this question to clipboard