Frequently Asked Questions

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

  Topic: Environmental Fees , Producer , Retailer

  Toggle the submenu Can businesses charge consumers an environmental fee?

  Businesses have the choice to recover the cost of recycling their products by incorporating those costs into the overall cost of their product (as they do with other costs, such as materials, labour, other regulatory compliance costs, etc.) or by charging it as a separate fee to consumers.

  Environmental fees are not mandatory and are applied at the discretion of the business charging them, including the amount of the fee.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Collection systems , Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu As a battery producer who has registered, what other requirements do I need to meet?

  As of July 1, 2020, producers are required to establish and operate a collection system for batteries that meets the accessibility requirements in the regulation. Producers must ensure that all batteries collected are managed regardless of their minimum management requirements.

  For producers to meet their obligations, they have the choice of establishing and operating their own collection and management system or working with one or more producer responsibility organizations (PROs) that are registered with the Authority.

  Please contact the Compliance Team at 833-600-0530 or registry@rpra.ca to discuss other requirements under the Batteries Regulation.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Producer , Registration

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

  A battery producer qualifies for an exemption if its management requirement is less than 1.25 tonnes of rechargeable batteries or less than 2.5 tonnes of single-use batteries. A producer’s management requirement is calculated as a percentage of the weight of batteries supplied into Ontario in a specific period. This calculation changes each year, and therefore producers should verify whether they qualify for an exemption annually.

  For information about how to calculate your management requirement, refer to our FAQ, How are battery producer minimum management requirements determined?

  A producer who meets the weight exemption is not required to register or report, they must retain records related to the weight of single-use and rechargeable batteries they supplied into Ontario each year and provide them to the Authority on request.

  Producers who want to confirm their status as an exempt producer should contact the Compliance Team at registry@rpra.ca or 833-600-0530.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Management activities , Producer

  Toggle the submenu What is battery supply data used for?

  Producer supply data is used to calculate their individual minimum management requirements under the Batteries Regulation.

  To learn how calculations are formulated, visit the FAQ How are battery producer minimum management requirements determined?

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Management activities , Producer

  Toggle the submenu How are battery producer’s minimum management requirements determined?

  A producer’s individual management requirements are determined by the following formulas found in section 13 of the Regulation:

  

  It is important to note that producer’s must ensure that all batteries collected are managed regardless of their minimum management requirement.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu If I am already registered with the Authority under a different Regulation, do I have to register again to comply with the Batteries Regulation?

  Yes. You are still required to register with the Authority Registry even if you already have an existing account.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Producer , Registration , Reporting

  Toggle the submenu As a producer, am I required to provide an audit report with my battery supply data?

  There is no audit verification requirement for the first two supply data reports submitted to the Authority. Therefore, data submitted for single-use batteries supplied in 2018, 2019, and 2020, as well as rechargeable batteries supplied in 2018 and 2019 will not have to be verified in accordance with the Registry Procedure – Verification and Audit.

  As shown in the table below, under section 15 of the Battery Regulation, the first supply data report for which there are audit and verification requirements will be submitted in 2022. This supply data report is for single-use batteries supplied in 2021 and rechargeable batteries supplied in 2020.

   

  

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu How can I determine if my product is obligated as a battery under the Batteries Regulation?

  The Batteries Regulation applies to the following types of batteries sold separately in Ontario (e.g., not embedded in products):

  • Single-use (primary) batteries weighing 5 kg or less and sold separately from products; and
  • Rechargeable batteries weighing 5 kg or less and sold separately from products.

  Examples of single-use and rechargeable batteries that fall under the Batteries Regulation are button cells, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, lantern batteries, sealed lead-acid batteries, and replacement batteries for products (for example, drill, cell phone, laptop) that weigh under 5 kg or less.

  The regulation does not apply to the following:

  • Batteries sold with or in products (for example, batteries sold with or in drills, cell phones, laptops, toys, vapes, fire alarms); or
  • Batteries over 5 kg (for example, car batteries, forklift batteries, stationary batteries).

  For more information, see the Compliance Bulletin: What batteries have to be reported?

  If you have questions about what items are and are not covered under the Batteries Regulation, contact the Compliance and Registry Team at registry@rpra.ca or (647) 496-0530 or toll-free at (833) 600-0530.

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• Program: Batteries

  Topic: Producer , Registration

  Toggle the submenu Am I a battery producer?

  You are considered a battery producer under the Batteries Regulation if you market batteries into Ontario and meet the following requirements:

  • Are the brand holder of the battery and have residency in Canada;
  • If there is no resident brand holder, have residency in Ontario and import batteries from outside of Ontario;
  • If there is no resident importer, have residency in Ontario and markets directly to consumers in Ontario (e.g., online sales); or
  • If there is no resident marketer, does not have residency in Ontario and markets directly to consumers in Ontario (e.g., online sales).

  Even if you do not meet the above definition, there may be circumstances where you qualify as a producer. Read the Batteries Regulation for more detail or contact the Compliance and Registry Team for guidance at registry@rpra.ca or (647) 496-0530 or toll-free at (833) 600-0530.

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• Program: Batteries , ITT/AV , Tires

  Topic: General

  Toggle the submenu What is a volunteer organization?

  A volunteer organization is a person who:

  • Is a brand holder who owns a brand that is used in respect of batteries or EEE;
  • Is not a resident in Canada;
  • Has registered with the Authority; and
  • Has entered into a written agreement with a producer for the purpose of carrying out one or more producer responsibilities.

  A volunteer organization is not a producer but can take on the registration and reporting responsibilities for producers in relation to its brand. Under the Regulation, producers remain responsible for meeting their management requirements and cannot pass off their obligations through voluntary remitter agreements or any other commercial agreement.

  Any brand holder or producer who is interested in making any agreement as indicated (or described) above, should contact the Compliance Team at registry@rpra.ca, 647-496-0530 or toll-free at 1-833-600-0530.

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