Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

• 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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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu How is the amount of Blue Box funding allocated to municipalities determined?

  First the Steward Obligation, InKind and Continuous Improvement (CIF) amounts are determined and then the funding is allocated for each municipal program in the MFAM (Municipal Funding Allocation Model). The MFAM uses the following three factors to determine the funding amount for each municipal Blue Box program:

  1. Best Practices score from Section 2.4 (accounts for 15% of funding)
  2. Recovered Tonnage of Blue Box materials marketed (accounts for 35% of funding)
  3. Net Cost of Blue Box program (accounts for 50% of funding)

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• Program: Datacall

  Toggle the submenu My program was audited. Will audit results be made in the Datacall?

  Yes. RPRA changes the Datacall record according to audit results, where applicable. All efforts are made to ensure these changes are reflected in the reporting year’s Datacall. Municipalities who were audited will receive a copy of their final audit report prior to the next Datacall reporting deadline.

  If you have any questions regarding your previous year’s data, contact datacall@rpra.ca.

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• 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?”

   

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• 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

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