Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Collection systems , Management activities , PRO , Producer

  Toggle the submenu What has replaced the Rule Creation process in the amended Blue Box Regulation?

  With the removal of the rule creation process and allocation table as the tools to create and maintain the Blue Box collection system, the amended regulation now requires producer responsibility organizations (PROs) to submit a report that outlines how they will operate the Blue Box collection system on behalf of producers, ensuring that materials are collected from all eligible communities (i.e., communities outside of the Far North) across the province.

  Circular Materials Ontario and Ryse Solutions Ontario PROs submitted a Blue Box PRO initial report to RPRA on July 1, 2022, that provides the following information:

  • A description of how they will comply with the collection requirements of the regulation, including any agreements between themselves and any other PRO
  • A detailed description of how they will make collected Blue Box materials available for processing, how materials will be processed, and the expected location of receiving facilities in Ontario
  • A description of how they will comply with the promotion and education requirements of the regulation

  You can read the news release and the initial report here.

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• Program: Blue Box

  Topic: Producer , Registration , Registry , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu How do I register and report if I am a newspaper producer?

  For the purpose of reporting annual supply data under the Blue Box Regulation, the weight of newspaper must be reported in the appropriate material categories. For example, newsprint must be reported in the ‘paper’ category, while any protective plastic wrapping must be reported as ‘flexible plastic’.

  Then, producers will be asked to indicate what percentage of their total Blue Box material supply was newspaper, including any protective wrapping and supplemental advertisements and inserts, in that calendar year.

  See our FAQs: “What is a newspaper?” and “Who is a newspaper producer?”

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• Program: Hazardous Waste

  Topic: General , Registry

  Toggle the submenu Where can I find information about the Hazardous Waste Program and associated regulations?

  More information about the program and the associated regulations is available through the following resources:

  • The ministry’s Hazardous Waste Management webpage: https://www.ontario.ca/page/hazardous-waste-management-business-and-industry
  • The revised Registration Guidance Manual for Generators of Liquid Industrial and Hazardous Waste.
  • Regulation 347: General – Waste Management under the Environmental Protection Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900347
  • Ontario Regulation 323/22: Subject Waste Program under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r22323

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu Is there updated guidance related to accounting for non-obligated materials (i.e. some municipalities collect pots and pans and horticultural plastics in their program)?

  No. You are encouraged to continue to report all Blue Box tonnes into the Datacall.

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu If WEEE is collected by a retailer or non-municipal organization, can this count towards our program diversion rate?

  This depends on the specifics of the arrangement. Please contact the Authority for further information and clarification at datacall@rpra.ca.

  In general, only residential WEEE collected by municipal efforts is reported in the Datacall.

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu I have several Blue Box contracts, but all include the same level of service. Do I have to report them separately?

  Yes. For Blue Box material, RPRA requires the information to be submitted for each individual contract or service provider.

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu Is my depot a single stream collection or multi-stream collection?

  Single stream collection is defined as a collection system where all materials are collected in a commingled mixture and there is no pre-sorting.

  A multi-stream collection system has at least two or more separate bins for different materials (e.g. a bin for containers and plastics, and another bin for paper/fibers).

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu When calculating Blue Box costs to be included in our Datacall submission, do I include CIF funding our program may have received?

  No. Do not include any CIF funding in your operating cost calculations. CIF funding that is used for capital costs should be subtracted off of the total cost reported.

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu In section 2.3, what can I include under P&E (Promotional and Educational) costs for my program?

  You may report expenditures for any of the Blue Box P&E materials that are listed in Section 2.3 of the Datacall. Remember to apply a percentage that accurately represents the portion of the materials related to the residential Blue Box program. Do not report any InKind advertising linage.

  Note: Administration staff cost is for the administration of the P&E materials only, and not for the entire Blue Box program. It is important to keep good records on how the P&E allocations were determined in case of an audit, or if RPRA should request it.

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu In section 2.1, how do I report multi-family households served?

  In Question 1, a multi-family household is any unit or apartment in a residential building with six units or more that is served by your municipality or private contractor. You are to report the total number of multi family units and not the number of buildings in your municipality. For example: If your municipality has 4 buildings with 6 units in each building, then report 24 multi-family households.

  In Question 2, enter the total number of multi-family households (units) that receive municipal curbside service for each waste stream listed. Do not include any multi-family households that do not receive curbside collection from your program.

  In Question 3, report the multi-family and/or single-family households that receive only depot collection.

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