What batteries are accepted for recycling

Single-use and rechargeable batteries weighing five kg or less are accepted for recycling. Examples include:

• Button cells
• AAA, AA, C, D
• 9V
• lantern batteries
• sealed lead acid batteries
• replacement batteries for products (e.g., cordless tools, cell phones, laptops)

How to recycle your used batteries

Using existing collection sites

First Nation communities can direct their residents to RPRA’s Where to Recycle map to search for locations to drop off their used batteries to be recycled, as well as other materials. The locations on the map are operated by PROs.

Establishing and operating your own collection site

All First Nation communities can collect used batteries themselves as a service to their residents. There are two ways for a First Nation to have batteries removed from their community:

1. On-demand or Call-in collection – Band staff can call a Batteries PRO to arrange a pick-up once they collect 1 tonne or more of used batteries. If the community is south of the Far North, the batteries must be collected within one year from when the request was made. If the community is in the Far North, reasonable efforts must be made to collect within one year from when the request was made.
2. Joining a PRO collection system – In this scenario, communities can contact a battery PRO to request that their site be added to the battery collection system. If a community is included in a PROs collection system, the used batteries will be picked up to be properly recycled. PROs may choose to include a site in their collection system but are not required to do so. Frequency of pickups are determined by the PRO. To be a part of a PRO’s collection system, the collection site must accept up to 15 kg of batteries (as outlined above ‘What batteries are accepted’) per day from any person.

Producers and their PROs can also provide additional collection services, such as curbside collection or collection events. A community should contact an electronics PRO if they are also interested in providing these services to their residents.

What Blue Box materials are accepted for recycling

The following materials are accepted under the Blue Box Program:

• Metal
• Glass
• Paper
• Flexible plastic
• Rigid plastic
• Beverage containers

How to recycle your Blue Box materials

In order to participate in the new producer-run Blue Box Program, First Nation communities south of the Far North Boundary must register with RPRA and submit reports that include statistical information about their community and logistical information about their current garbage and Blue Box (if applicable) collection service.

Once an eligible First Nation registers to participate in the producer-run Blue Box program, the producer responsibility organizations (PROs) are obligated to provide an offer of collection services or funding on behalf of the producers that fund the system.

How to register with RPRA

To register, communities must complete the registration form below and email it as an attachment to [email protected].

• Blue Box Registration Form – First Nation community

What do First Nation communities need to report?

First Nation communities that have registered with RPRA are required to submit reports that include statistical information about their community and logistical information about their current garbage and Blue Box (if applicable) collection service.

Reports are shared only with Circular Materials, the PRO responsible for engaging with First Nations to develop their offer of Blue Box service or funding.

Offer process

After the required reports have been submitted to RPRA, offer negotiations are set up between Circular Materials, the common collection system administrator, and the First Nation. RPRA does not directly participate in the offer process, however the submission, acceptance, rejection and/or revocation of an offer must be communicated through RPRA.

For more information about eligibility, reporting, and the offer process, visit our Blue Box First Nation Communities webpage.

What Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) are accepted for recycling

The following are examples of hazardous and special products (also known as household hazardous waste) that are accepted for recycling:

• Antifreeze, oil containers, oil filters
• Non-refillable pressurized containers
• Refillable pressurized containers
• Refillable propane containers
• Paints and coatings
• Solvents
• Pesticides
• Mercury-containing devices (barometers, thermometers, thermostats)
• Fertilizers

How to recycle your used household hazardous waste

Using existing collection sites

First Nation communities can direct their residents to RPRA’s Where to Recycle map to search for locations to drop off their used household hazardous waste to be recycled, as well as other materials. The locations on the map are operated by PROs.

Establishing and operating your own collection site

All First Nation communities can collect used hazardous and special products themselves as a service to their residents. There are two ways for a First Nation to have HSP removed from their community:

1. On-demand or call-in collection – Band staff can call a hazardous and special products PRO for the following materials to arrange a pick-up:

   Materials	Minimum amount to request a pick-up
   Antifreeze, oil containers, oil filters Non-refillable pressurized containers Paints, coatings, solvents Pesticides	100 kg or more
   Mercury-containing devices (barometers, thermometers, thermostats) Refillable propane containers Refillable pressurized containers	No minimum amount

   If the community is south of the Far North, the HSP must be collected within three months from when the request was made. If the community is in the Far North, reasonable efforts must be made to collect within one year from when the request was made.

   Note: Fertilizers are not eligible for pick-up using this method.

2. Joining a PRO collection system – In this scenario, communities can contact an HSP PRO to request that their site be added to an HSP collection system. If a community is included in a PRO’s collection system, the used HSP will be picked up to be properly recycled. PROs may choose to include a site in its collection system but are not required to do so. Frequency of pickups are determined by the PRO.To be a part of a PRO’s collection system, the First Nation collection site must comply with collection site requirements, which include accepting, at a minimum, all types of HSP in the same category for categories A and B.

   Producers and their PROs can also provide additional collection services, such as curbside collection or collection events. A community should contact an HSP PRO if they are also interested in providing these services to their residents.

What electronics are accepted for recycling

Electronic equipment (also known as information technology, telecommunications, and audio-visual (ITT/AV) equipment) is accepted for recycling. Examples include:

• Desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, mouse, keyboard, monitors
• Cellular phones, smart phones
• Televisions, DVD or VHS players
• Video game consoles
• Printers, scanners, fax machines
• Cameras
• Radios, headphones, stereos
• Musical instruments designed to be used with an electrical charge
• Peripherals, cables and chargers for electronic equipment

How to recycle your used electronics

Using existing collection sites

First Nation communities can direct their residents to RPRA’s Where to Recycle map to search for locations to drop off their used electronics to be recycled, as well as other materials. The locations on the map are operated by PROs.

Establishing and operating your own collection site

All First Nation communities can collect used electronics themselves as a service to their residents. There are two ways a First Nation can have electronics removed from their community:

1. On demand or call-in collection – Band staff can call an electronics PRO once they have collected more than 4 tonnes of electronics. If the community is south of the Far North, the electronics must be collected within one year from when the request was made. If the community is in the Far North, reasonable efforts must be made to collect within one year from when the request was made.
2. Join a PRO collection system – In this scenario, communities should contact an electronics PRO to request that their site be added to a collection system. If included in a PROs collection system, the used electronics will be picked up free of charge to be properly recycled. To note: PROs may choose to include a site in their collection system but are not required to do so. Frequency of pickups are determined by the PRO. To be a part of a PRO’s collection system, the collection site must accept up to 50 kg of electronics (outlined in ‘What electronics are accepted’ above) per day from any person.

Producers and their PROs can also provide additional collection services, such as curbside collection or collection events. A community should contact an electronics PRO if they are also interested in providing these services to their residents.

What lighting is accepted for recycling

The following are examples of lighting accepted for recycling:

• Light bulbs, tubes, and lamps, including:
  • incandescent
  • fluorescent
  • halogen
  • light emitting diode (LED)
  • high-intensity discharge (HID)
  • ultraviolet

Lighting fixtures are not accepted for recycling.

How to recycle your used lighting

Using existing collection sites

First Nation communities can direct their residents to RPRA’s Where to Recycle map to search for locations to drop off their used lighting to be recycled, as well as other materials. The locations on the map are operated by PROs.

Establishing and operating your own collection site

All First Nation Ccommunities can collect used lighting themselves as a service to their residents.

1. On demand or call-in collection – Band staff can call a lighting PRO once they have collected more than 300 kilograms of lighting. If the community is south of the Far North, the lighting must be collected within one year from when the request was made. If the community is in the Far North, reasonable efforts must be made to collect within one year from when the request was made.
2. In this scenario, communities should contact a lighting PRO to request that their site be added to a lighting collection system. If included in a PROs collection system, the used lighting will be picked up free of charge to be properly recycled. To note: PROs may choose to include a site in their collection system but are not required to do so. Frequency of the pickups are determined by the PRO.

To be a part of a PRO’s collection system, the collection site must accept up to 5 kg of lighting products (outlined in ‘What lighting is accepted’ above) per day from any person.

Producers and their PROs can also provide additional collection services, such as curbside collection or collection events. A community should contact a PRO if they are also interested in providing these services to their residents.

What tires are accepted for recycling

Tires that weigh one kg or more are accepted for recycling. Examples include:

• Car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, trailer and tractor tires
• Tires on industrial and agricultural vehicles and equipment
• Snowblower, wheelbarrow, dolly and lawn mower tires

How to recycle your used tires

Using existing collection sites

First Nation communities can direct their residents to RPRA’s Where to Recycle map to search for locations to drop off their used tires to be recycled, as well as other materials. The locations on the map are operated by PROs.

Establishing and operating your own collection site

All First Nation communities can collect used tires themselves as a service to their residents. There are two ways for a First Nation to have tires removed from their community:

1. On-demand or Call-in collection – Band staff can call a tires PRO to arrange a pick-up once they collect 200 or more tires. The tires must be collected within one year from when the request was made.

2. Joining a PRO collection system – In this scenario, communities can contact a tire PRO to request that their site be added to a tire collection system. If a community is included in a PRO’s collection system, the used tires will be picked up to be properly recycled. PROs may choose to include a site in its collection system but are not required to do so. Frequency of pickups are determined by the PRO.

To be a part of a PRO’s collection system, the First Nation collection site must comply with collection site requirements, which include accepting, at a minimum:

• Passenger and light truck tires
• Tires with rims
• Up to 10 passenger and light truck tires per day from any person