ANNUAL REPORT
2023

Launching the HWP Registry and HazTrack mobile app

RPRA staff collaborated with ministry staff, industry stakeholders and external technology vendors to build, test, and launch the HWP Registry and the HazTrack mobile app on January 1, 2023. Early users ’uptake  was even greater than anticipated and by the end of 2023, the registry, mobile app and external APIs had processed more than 250,000 manifests. 

Focusing on service, effectiveness and efficiency

2023 was the first year since its inception that RPRA did not build a new registry portal. This allowed us to focus on refining and improving registrant services and strengthening processes and systems to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.  

We created a streamlined and strategic decision-making process for prioritizing and developing registry enhancements. We also made progress towards developing a customer service strategy, and developed a data governance strategy to guide registry data organization, analysis, archiving and publishing for internal and public use. 

Transitioning the first group of communities to the new Blue Box Producer Responsibility Program

In 2023, the first group of municipalities and First Nations (including the City of Toronto, City of Ottawa, and the City of London) transitioned to the new extended producer responsibility regulatory framework for Blue Box materials. RPRA worked with producers, industry associations, PROs and the Ministry to ensure a smooth transition with no curbside Blue Box service disruptions. RPRA also conducted a campaign helping producers understand their obligations to implement a collection system in compliance with the Blue Box Regulation.  

Making information about resource recovery and compliance more accessible

RPRA has increased the amount and depth of information available to the public on RPRA’s website about resource recovery in Ontario and RPRA’s compliance activities in 2023. RPRA published a new compliance activities webpage, a new Electronics Supply and Recovery webpage, and a new compliance orders and administrative penalties. The public reports section of RPRA’s website also includes the results of RPRA’s annual registrant survey. 

Datacall trends report

In 2023, RPRA summarized and analyzed 19 years of information about the contents of Ontario’s Blue Boxes in the Datacall trends report. The report reviews residential waste management data reported into the Datacall from 2002 to 2021 as part of the legacy Blue Box program. It also analyzes some of the factors that have affected residential diversion rates over the years, such as new technology, economic conditions, stricter recycling market policies and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Launching the new ‘Where to Recycle’ collection site map

In 2023, RPRA launched a new “Where to Recycle” collection site map. The map displays recycling location information for materials in all producer responsibility programs except Blue Box, which operates at the curbside. The compliance team can use the map to better monitor producer compliance with regulatory requirements for collections systems, and the public can use the map to find locations to drop off regulated materials.