Posted on February 13, 2024 by Monica Ahmed -
Under the WDTA Blue Box program, municipalities could choose to accept these materials in their programs. This choice varied between municipalities.
Under the producer-run Blue Box program, none of these materials are considered obligated Blue Box materials. The Blue Box Regulation specifically states that hard or soft cover books or products made from flexible plastic that is ordinarily used for the containment, protection and or handling of food, such as cling wrap, sandwich bags or freezer bags are not Blue Box materials. Pots and pans do not meet the definition of Blue Box material under the Regulation.
Producers are not obligated to collect or manage the recovery of these materials.
Posted on February 13, 2024 by Monica Ahmed -
Under the WDTA Blue Box program, some municipalities may have chosen to provide Blue Box collection to facilities that were not residences, such as commercial properties, municipally owned and operated buildings or other institutions.
Under the Blue Box Regulation, only certain types of facilities can receive collection under the producer-run Blue Box program. These facilities are:
- Multi-residential facilities with six or more dwelling units
- Retirement homes that are operated by a municipality or an entity that does not operate with the purpose of generating a profit or were included in the WDTA Blue Box program on August 15, 2019. “Retirement home” has the same meaning as in the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.
- Long-term care homes that are non-profit long-term care homes or were included in the WDTA Blue Box program on August 15, 2019. “Long-term care home” has the same meaning as in the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021. “Non-profit long-term care home” has the same meaning as the regulations under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021.
- Buildings that contain public or private elementary or secondary schools. “School” and “private school” have the same meaning as in the Education Act.
Posted on January 31, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
No. Recycling drop-off locations displayed on the map cannot:
- charge the public a fee to drop off materials that the location accepts.
- refuse the drop-off of materials displayed on the map. However, recycling locations 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.
If you are charged a fee or refused drop off, you can report an issue about that specific location to RPRA (see our other FAQ for further instructions).
Note: In October 2026, the Where to Recycle map moved from rpra.ca to OntarioRecycles.ca, RPRA’s website to keep the public informed about the circular economy and recycling in Ontario.
Posted on January 31, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
RPRA’s Where to Recycle map displays locations across Ontario where the public can drop off used materials to be recycled, such as batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, antifreeze, pesticides), lighting and tires, for free. Materials collected at these locations are reused, refurbished, recycled, or properly disposed of to help keep them out of landfill, recover valuable resources and protect our environment.
Note: In October 2026, the Where to Recycle map moved from rpra.ca to OntarioRecycles.ca, RPRA’s website to keep the public informed about the circular economy and recycling in Ontario.
Posted on January 31, 2024 by Michelle Hoover -
The recycling locations that appear on the map are reported to RPRA by businesses that run the recycling systems
Posted on February 10, 2023 by Monica Ahmed -
Yes, a Blue Box producer or PRO (producer responsibility organization) on behalf of a producer, or a service provider on behalf of either party, can voluntarily choose to collect Blue Box materials that are not marketed to consumers.
Blue Box materials not marketed to consumers cannot be counted towards meeting a producer’s collection or management requirements under the Blue Box Regulation.
If Blue Box materials that are marketed to consumers are co-collected with Blue Box materials not marketed to consumers, a person must use a methodology or process acceptable to the Authority to account for materials supplied to a consumer or not. Anyone considering this can contact the Compliance Team to discuss at [email protected] or 833-600-0530.
For example, if Blue Box materials supplied to a consumer in Ontario are collected along the same collection route as Blue Box materials that were not supplied to a consumer, they must be accounted for separately. When those materials are then sent to a processor, they must also be accounted for separately.
See the FAQ: Who is a consumer under the Blue Box Regulation?
Posted on February 10, 2023 by Monica Ahmed -
Yes, a Blue Box producer, or PRO (producer responsibility organization) on behalf of a producer, or a service provider on behalf of either party, can choose to offer collection services to any location. Blue Box producers are required to provide collection services to all eligible sources, as well as public spaces.
Blue Box materials collected from locations that are not eligible sources cannot count towards meeting a producer’s management requirement unless they were supplied to a consumer in Ontario. See this FAQ: Who is a consumer under the Blue Box Regulation?
If a person is co-collecting from locations that are eligible sources and not eligible sources, a person must use a methodology or process acceptable to the Authority to account for materials collected from each type of source. Anyone considering this can contact the Compliance Team to discuss at [email protected] or 833-600-0530.
For example, if materials are collected from an eligible source and a location that is not an eligible source along the same collection route, they must be accounted for separately. When those materials are then sent to a processor, they must also be accounted for separately.
Posted on February 10, 2023 by Monica Ahmed -
Yes, a producer, a PRO (producer responsibility organization) on behalf of a producer, or a service provider on behalf of either party, can collect any product or material (including materials or products that are not designated under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA)). For example, a battery producer may choose to collect batteries that weigh over 5kg; a tire producer may choose to collect bicycle tires; or a Blue Box producer may choose to collect books.
Products or materials that are not designated under RRCEA regulations cannot be counted towards meeting a producer’s collection or management requirements under RRCEA.
If designated materials are co-collected with materials that are not designated, a person must use a methodology or process acceptable to the Authority to account for those materials. Anyone considering this can contact the Compliance Team to discuss at [email protected] or 833-600-0530.
For example, if bicycle tires are collected at the same time as automotive tires, they must be accounted for separately both when collected and when sent to a processor.
Posted on December 13, 2022 by RPRA Communications -
Posted on November 16, 2022 by Emma Chothani -
Lighting producers are required to establish and operate a lighting collection system that meets the accessibility requirements in the EEE Regulation. A producer must ensure that all lighting collected is managed regardless of what their minimum management requirements is.
A producer has the choice of establishing and operating their own collection and management systems or working with one or more producer responsibility organizations (PROs) registered with RPRA to meet their obligations.
For detailed information on lighting producer requirements, visit our Lighting Producer webpage.
If you have further questions about lighting producer requirements, contact the Compliance and Registry Team at [email protected] or 1-833-600-0530.
Posted on November 16, 2022 by RPRA Communications -
A lighting producer qualifies for an exemption if their average weight of supply for that calendar year is less than or equal to 700 kg.
Average supply weight is determined using the following formula:
Average weight of lighting supply = (Y3 + Y4 + Y5) / 3
Eg. 2025 average weight of supply = (2022 + 2021 + 2020) / 3
Lighting producers that meet the exemption criteria are exempt from:
- Registering with and reporting to RPRA
- Establishing a collection and management system
- Meeting a management requirement
- 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.
Producers that are exempt must keep records of the materials they supplied, as set out in section 30 of the regulation.
Producers are advised to confirm their exemption with the Compliance Team at 833-600-0530 or [email protected].
See our FAQs: “How are lighting producers’ minimum management requirements determined?” and “What do I have to do if I am an exempt lighting producer?”
Posted on November 16, 2022 by RPRA Communications -
An exempt producer is not required to:
- Register and report to RPRA
- Establish a collection and management system
- Meet a management requirement
- Meet promotion and education requirements
Exempt producers must retain records related to the weight of lighting supplied into Ontario each year and provide them to RPRA upon request.
See our FAQ: ‘How do I determine if I am an exempt lighting producer?’
Posted on August 17, 2022 by Monica Ahmed -
Yes, producers are obligated to provide collection services to new single-family residences, but these locations must become eligible sources first.
A new residence becomes an eligible source only after the local municipality, local services board, or First Nation registers the new single-family residences (also referred to as “natural growth”) by updating its address information with the Common Collection System Administrator, Circular Materials. Once the new addresses are properly registered, producers are obligated to provide collection services as soon as is practicable.
Municipalities, local services boards and First Nations should contact Circular Materials if they have new residences that need Blue Box collection service. Contact information can be found by visiting Circular Materials’ website and typing in your community’s name.
