Posted on June 6, 2025 by Uju Ani -
If First Nation communities, municipalities or other collection site operators want to collect used HSP as a service to customers or residents, they need to ensure their sites are included in a producer’s collection network.
Most producers will be working with service providers, such as PROs, processors or haulers to operate their collection networks. To join a collection network, First Nation communities, municipalities, and collection site operators should contact a service provider registered with RPRA. View the list of registered service providers here.
Municipalities and First Nations communities can also hold collection events. Collection events are typically one to two day events where members of the public or community can drop off materials such as HSP. These communities should contact a service provider if they are interested in providing these services to their residents.
All municipalities, territorial districts and First Nation communities can contact producers or PROs to arrange a pickup once they collect a specific amount of HSP material. The minimum amount required for pickup differs by category. For further information about this option, please see our Recycling in First Nation Communities page.
Posted on April 30, 2025 by Michelle Hoover -
Readily accessible to the public means a site can be accessed by any consumer who wants to drop off used materials for free to be recycled, reused or refurbished.
A public collection site cannot restrict the type of products accepted. For example, an electronics collection site cannot refuse to accept printers or large televisions. Retail stores are only required to accept materials of a similar size and function to the products supplied at that location. For example, a mobile phone kiosk may choose to accept only mobile phones.
Collection sites can request reasonable requirements when consumers drop off an item to ensure health and safety. For example, sites may require that used oil filters are dropped off in sealed containers, light tubes are taped together, etc.
Restrictions
If a collection site has restrictions, for example due to an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA), municipal by-law, or fire code provision, the restrictions may be applied, and the collection site will still be considered readily accessible to the public. For example, a municipal depot that has an ECA to accept materials only from residents of the community can apply this restriction and still be considered readily accessible to the public. Similarly, a collection site with an ECA that prohibits collection from the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors may apply these restrictions and still be considered readily accessible to the public. And a collection site that has restrictions on how it can be accessed (such as drive-in only) may enforce these restrictions and still be considered readily accessible to the public.
Posted on March 25, 2025 by Monica Ahmed -
A supplemental collection system is one of three types of collection and management systems that producers can choose to establish or participate in to contribute to their collection, management, and promotion and education requirements under the Blue Box Regulation.
Supplemental collection systems are not required to service all eligible communities south of Ontario’s Far North. Therefore, a producer participating in this type of system is still required to participate in the common collection system to meet their obligation to collect and manage Blue Box materials from all eligible communities, and to provide a promotion and education program.
One or more producers or PROs can establish a supplemental collection system. If a producer or PRO wishes to use a supplemental collection system’s collected materials towards producer minimum management requirements, that system should register with RPRA.
For more information on supplemental collection system registration criteria, please reach out to registry@rpra.ca.
Also see: ‘What is the Blue Box common collection system?’, ‘What is a Blue Box alternative collection system?’
Posted on March 25, 2025 by Monica Ahmed -
The common collection system is the Blue Box material collection and management system established by PROs on behalf of producers. Blue Box materials that are picked up through curbside residential collection, for instance, are processed through the common collection system. The system came into effect on July 1, 2023, as outlined in the Blue Box Regulation. The common collection system services all eligible communities south of Ontario’s Far North.
It is one of three types of collection and management systems that producers can choose to use to meet their minimum management requirements. Producers who use the common collection system to meet their obligations will contract with a PRO that is participating in the common collection system.
A high-level overview of the common collection system was provided by PROs Circular Materials and Ryse Solutions Ontario in 2022 in their Initial Blue Box Report.
Also see: ‘What is a Blue Box Alternative collection system?’, ‘What is a Blue Box supplemental collection system?’
Posted on March 25, 2025 by Monica Ahmed -
An alternative collection system is one of three types of collection and management systems for Blue Box materials. Producers can choose to establish or participate in an alternative collection system to meet their collection, management, and promotion and education requirements under the Blue Box Regulation.
An alternative collection system can be established by one or more producers or PROs. The system must demonstrate that it can meet all system regulatory requirements as well as the minimum management requirements for participating producer(s). A producer can choose to meet their obligations using an alternative collection system instead of participating in the common collection system.
Types of alternative collection systems may vary and can include depot or return-by-mail systems. Alternative collection systems must service all eligible communities south of Ontario’s Far North.
For more information on alternative collection system registration criteria, please reach out to registry@rpra.ca.
Also see: ‘What is the Blue Box common collection system?’, ‘What is a Blue Box supplemental collection system?’
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
Battery, electronics, lighting and tire collection sites must be operated during regular business hours throughout the calendar year.
Household hazardous waste collection sites may open seasonally. The Where to Recycle map should reflect the time of the year when the collection site operates.
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
To update the type of collection site, submit a request through the map directly by:
- looking up the location,
- clicking the location,
- clicking the ‘Report an issue for this location’ link, and
- filling out the form by providing the correct collection site type.
If the request is for multiple locations, contact the Compliance Team at registry@rpra.ca with the following information:
- the issue,
- name and address for each collection site, and
- your contact information.
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
To delete a duplicate collection site, submit a request through the map directly by:
- looking up the location,
- clicking the location,
- clicking the ‘Report an issue for this location’ link, and
- filling out the form by asking to remove the duplicate collection site.
If the request is for multiple locations, contact the Compliance Team at registry@rpra.ca with the following information:
- the issue,
- name and address for each collection site, and
- your contact information.
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
Municipalities are required to accept materials from the sectors identified in their Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA). Municipalities are not required to accept more than what their ECA requires them to.
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
If your collection site isn’t part of a PRO’s collection network, it won’t appear on the map. The map populates collection sites with data entered by producers or PROs on their behalf.
If you are working with a PRO and your site is not listed on the map, contact your PRO.
If you aren’t already working with a PRO and want to add your collection site to the map, you can find a list of PROs and their contact information on the applicable program page of RPRA’s website.
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
A public collection site must be readily accessible to the public and accept designated used materials during regular business hours. Publicly accessible collection sites and events appear on the Where to Recycle map.
A private collection site (e.g. office or school that collects designated materials) does not need to be publicly accessible. Private collection sites do not appear on the map.
Read this related FAQ: What does it mean for a collection site to be readily accessible to the public?
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
First, contact your PRO to confirm if the collection site should be considered private or if it can be removed entirely from their collection system. If they confirm it can be removed from the system, ask them to deactivate it so it no longer appears on the map.
If you aren’t working with a PRO, request to remove your collection site through the map directly by:
- looking up the location,
- clicking the location,
- clicking the ‘Report an issue for this location’ link, and
- filling out the form asking to remove the collection site.
Posted on October 30, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
Wrong materials showing
If your site doesn’t collect the material(s) listed on the map, you can submit a request to change it through the map directly by:
- looking up the location,
- clicking the location,
- clicking the ‘Report an issue for this location’ link, and
- filling out the form by providing which materials should be removed.
Materials not showing
If you collect more materials than what is listed on the map, contact your PRO and they’ll update your collection site information.
If you aren’t already working with a PRO for a specific material and want to add a material to your collection site, you can find a list of PROs and contact information on the applicable program page of RPRA’s website.
