Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ filtered results:

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

Topic: Environmental Fees , Producer , Retailer

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.
Program: Batteries

Topic: Collection systems , Producer , Registration

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.
Program: Batteries

Topic: Producer , Registration
A battery producer qualifies for an exemption if their average weight of supply for that calendar year is:

Less than or equal to 2,500 kg of rechargeable batteries, or

Less than or equal to 5,000 kg of primary batteries.

Average supply weight is determined using the following formula:

Average weight of rechargeable batteries = (Y3 + Y4 + Y5) / 3

Eg. 2025 average weight of supply = (2022 + 2021 + 2020) / 3

Average weight of primary batteries = (Y2 + Y3 + Y4) / 3

Eg. 2025 average weight of supply = (2023 + 2022 + 2021) / 3

Battery producers that meet the exemption criteria are exempt from:

Registering and reporting to RPRA.

Establishing a collection and management system.

Meeting management requirements.

Promotion and education requirements.

Producers must verify that they continue to meet the exemption annually, since their average weight of supply will change from year to year.

Exempt producers must keep records related to the weight of batteries (by category) supplied into Ontario each year and provide them to RPRA upon request.

Producers are advised to confirm their exemption with the Compliance Team at 833-600-0530 or registry@rpra.ca.

Also see our FAQ: ‘How are battery producers’ minimum management requirements determined?‘
Program: Batteries

Topic: Management activities , Producer

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?

Program: Batteries

Topic: Management activities , Producer

A producer’s individual management requirement is determined by formulas found in section 13 of the Regulation. See the table below for details:

Supply Report Year for Primary Batteries	Supply Report Year for Rechargeable Batteries	Formula	Performance Year
2023	2022	[(2023+2022+2021)/3] + (2022+2021+2020)/3] × 45%	2025*
2024	2023	[(2024+2023+2022)/3] + (2023+2022+2021)/3] × 50%	2026
2025	2024	[(2025+2024+2023)/3] + (2024+2023+2022)/3] × 50%	2027
2026	2025	[(2026+2025+2024)/3] + (2025+2024+2023)/3] × 50%	2028

*For reports submitted in 2024, producers should use RPRA’s manual calculator.

It is important to note that producers must ensure that all collected batteries are managed, regardless of what their minimum management requirement is.

Note: Producers with a management requirement below a certain threshold may be exempt from registering with and reporting to RPRA.

See our FAQ ‘How do I determine if I am an exempt battery producer?’ to learn more.

Program: Batteries

Topic: Producer , Registration

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

Topic: Producer , Registration , Reporting

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.
Program: Batteries

Topic: Producer , Registration
Producers are required to report single-use (primary) and rechargeable batteries that:

Weigh 5 kg or less, and

Are sold separately from products.

Examples include button cells, AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, lantern batteries, small, sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries, and replacement batteries for products such as drills, cell phones, and laptops.

Batteries that do not need to be reported are those that:

Are sold with or in products (e.g., batteries included with cordless power tools, cell phones, laptops, toys, vapes, fire alarms)

Weigh over 5 kg (e.g., car batteries, forklift batteries, stationary batteries)

Producers who wish to confirm if they are exempt because the type(s) of batteries they supply do not need to be reported should contact the Compliance Team at registry@rpra.ca or 833-600-0530.
Program: Batteries

Topic: Producer , Registration
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.
Program: Batteries , ITT/AV , Tires

Topic: General
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.