Auditor General performance audit of RPRA

In January 2025, the Office of the Auditor General (AG) of Ontario selected RPRA for a routine performance audit that aimed to evaluate RPRA’s effectiveness in fulfilling its mandate. The AG’s report, published in December 2025, made 11 recommendations to strengthen RPRA’s effectiveness, with a focus on opportunities to improve compliance for small producers and to improve processes and procedures for tracking and reporting on both compliance results and overall RPRA performance. For updates on the implementation of each recommendation, visit our Auditor General Recommendations Tracker.

Transition to producer-run Blue Box program complete

Ontario’s legacy Blue Box Program completed its three-year transition to full producer responsibility on December 31, 2025. Municipalities and First Nation communities that operated and funded half the cost of the legacy program transitioned to the producer-run system in phases to allow for a smoother transition and avoid service disruptions. As of January 1, 2026, municipalities are no longer responsible for operating or funding the program.

The Blue Box Program is the final legacy waste diversion program to transition to the new producer responsibility regulatory framework, marking a key milestone in Ontario’s shift to a circular economy.

Launch of new public-facing website

RPRA developed a new public-facing website about Ontario’s circular economy called Ontario Recycles. The website directly supports RPRA’s mandate to provide focused information to the public about resource recovery, waste reduction and the recycling programs RPRA regulates. The site was soft launched at the end of 2025 and officially debuted in June 2026.

Implementation of significant regulatory amendments

Major amendments to all producer responsibility regulations that took effect in 2025 introduced new organization-wide activities for RPRA. This included updating the registry to align with new requirements, adjusting internal processes to ensure operational efficiency and refreshing learning materials and resources to help registrants understand and adapt to the changes.

A risk-based approach to compliance

RPRA increased compliance and enforcement actions in 2025 using its risk-based approach to compliance, grounded in communications, enforcement and registrant support. This increase was the result of ongoing investments in RPRA’s compliance function and improvements to process and tools and is essential to help achieve compliance outcomes as producer responsibility programs mature and new regulatory requirements take effect. This approach resulted in measurable outcomes, including closing 826 free rider cases. For additional details and metrics related to RPRA’s compliance activities in 2025, review our Compliance Activities Metrics.

Enhancing registrant service delivery

In December 2025, RPRA published its Registrant Service Standards, which were developed to evaluate and measure RPRA’s performance to ensure registrant satisfaction, enhance operational efficiency, optimize costs where possible, and identify areas for continuous improvement. The standards apply to all registrants across producer responsibility programs and digital reporting services.

RPRA also focused on enhancing its registry to improve user experience and reduce burden for registrants. Highlights included:
– Enhancing the registry’s billing and payment features to simplify processes and provide more user-friendly options for paying invoices.
– Aligning registry functionality and usability with substantial regulatory amendments that came into effect in 2025 across the batteries, HSP, ITT/AV and tires portals.
– Reviewing and updating internal processes and policies to further optimize efficiency and support future planning of registry and system enhancement projects.