Posted on October 19, 2021 by Uju Ani -
As of October 1, 2021, producers are required to establish and operate a collection system that meets the accessibility requirements in the regulation. Producers must ensure that all HSP collected is managed regardless of what their minimum management requirements are.
Producers have 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.
Large producers have an additional requirement to provide call-in collection services. Learn more.
Please contact the Compliance Team at 1-833-600-0530 or registry@rpra.ca to discuss other requirements under the HSP Regulation.
See our FAQ to understand “Am I a small, large or exempt HSP producer?“. For more guidance, read the Hazardous and Special Products Collection Systems Compliance Bulletin.
Posted on September 21, 2021 by Monica Ahmed -
No. As of October 1, 2021, it is up to the municipality to decide if they will participate in the HSP Regulation. Those that decide to participate will need to work with a PRO or a producer.
Posted on September 15, 2021 by RPRA Communications -
Yes, a producer can change PROs at any time. Producers must notify RPRA of any change in PROs within 30 days of the change.
Posted on September 15, 2021 by RPRA Communications -
The rule and allocation table creation process has been removed from the Blue Box Regulation and is therefore no longer required to create and maintain the system for collecting Blue Box materials across the province, as per regulatory amendments made by the government on April 14, 2022. As such, rule creators are no longer applicable under the regulation. Learn more about the amendments.
To replace these tools, the amended regulation now requires PROs to submit a report that outlines how they will operate the Blue Box collection system on behalf of producers, ensuring that materials are collected from all eligible communities (i.e., communities outside of the Far North) across the province. Learn more about what PROs need to include in the report.
Posted on September 15, 2021 by Michelle Hoover -
Posted on September 15, 2021 by Uju Ani -
An HSP producer qualifies for an exemption if their average weight of supply for the previous calendar year is less than or equal to the weight specified in the chart below:
| Exempt (Less than <) |
| Oil Filters | 3.5 |
| Non-refillable Pressurized Containers | 3 |
| Antifreeze | 20 |
| Oil Containers | 2 |
| Solvents | 3 |
| Paints and Coatings | 10 |
| Pesticides | 1 |
| Refillable Pressurized Containers | N/A |
| Mercury-containing Devices |
| Fertilizers |
| Propane Containers (refillable) |
See our FAQ “Am I a small, large, or exempt HSP producer?” to determine how to calculate if you are an exempt HSP producer.
HSP producers that meet the exemption criteria are exempt from:
- Registering 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.
Exempt producers must keep records related to the weight of HSP supplied into Ontario each year and provide them to RPRA upon request.
Producers are advised to confirm their exemption with the Compliance Team at 1-833-600-0530 or registry@rpra.ca.
Posted on September 15, 2021 by RPRA Communications -
The following are the types of Blue Box Materials obligated under the Blue Box Regulation:
Posted on August 18, 2021 by Jess Turchet -
Blue Box materials supplied to a business (e.g., the operators of a long-term care home) are not obligated, however, there are no deductions available for materials supplied to a consumer in an IC&I setting (e.g., a resident of a long-term care home).
Any Blue Box materials supplied to consumers in Ontario are obligated. Blue Box materials supplied to the IC&I sector are not obligated (except beverage containers which are obligated regardless of the sector supplied into).
Posted on August 18, 2021 by Jess Turchet -
The brand holder is the obligated producer.
A marketplace facilitator only becomes obligated for products supplied through its marketplace where the producer would have been a retailer. If the producer is a brand holder or an importer, they remain the obligated producer even when products are distributed by a marketplace facilitator.
A retailer is a business that supplies products to consumers, whether online or at a physical location.
Posted on August 18, 2021 by Jess Turchet -
No, transport packaging is only obligated when supplied to a consumer in Ontario. Any transport packaging removed by a retailer or other entity before the product is supplied to a consumer is not obligated under this regulation.
Posted on June 3, 2021 by Jess Turchet -
Under the Blue Box Regulation, blue box product packaging includes:
- Primary packaging is for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of a product at the point of sale, including all packaging components, but does not include convenience packaging or transport packaging (e.g., film and cardboard used to package a 24-pack of water bottles and the label on the water bottle).
- Transportation packaging which is provided in addition to primary packaging to facilitate the handling or transportation of one or more products such as a pallet, bale wrap or box, but does not include a shipping container designed for transporting things by road, ship, rail or air.
- Convenience packaging includes service packaging and is used in addition to primary packaging to facilitate end users’ handling or transportation of one or more products. It also includes packaging that is supplied at the point of sale by food-service or other service providers to facilitate the delivery of goods and includes items such as bags and boxes that are supplied to end users at check out, whether or not there is a separate fee for these items.
- Service accessories are products supplied with a food or beverage product and facilitate the consumption of that food or beverage product and are ordinarily disposed of after a single use, whether or not they could be reused (e.g., a straw, cutlery or plate).
- Ancillary elements are integrated into packaging (directly hung or attached to packaging) and are intended to be consumed or disposed of with the primary packaging. Ancillary elements help the consumer use the product. Examples of ancillary packaging include a mascara brush forming part of a container closure, a toy on the top of candy acting as part of the closure, devices for measuring dosage that form part of a detergent container cap, or the pouring spout on a juice or milk carton.
Posted on June 3, 2021 by Jess Turchet -
Under the Blue Box Regulation, paper products include printed and unprinted paper, such as a newspaper, magazine, greeting cards, calendars (promotional or purchased), notebooks and daily planners, promotional material, directory, catalogue or paper used for copying, writing or any other general use.
Hard or soft cover books and hardcover periodicals are not considered paper products.
Posted on June 3, 2021 by Jess Turchet -
Under the Blue Box Regulation, a packaging-like product is:
- ordinarily used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery, presentation or transportation of things
- ordinarily disposed of after a single use
- not used as packaging when it is supplied to the consumer
Packaging-like products include aluminum foil, a metal tray, plastic film, plastic wrap, wrapping paper, a paper bag, beverage cup, plastic bag, cardboard box or envelope, but does not include a product made from flexible plastic that is ordinarily used for the containment, protection, or handling of food, such as cling wrap, sandwich bags, or freezer bags.
If a producer is unsure whether or not their product is a packaging-like product, they can ask themselves the following questions to help determine whether the product is obligated to be reported under the Blue Box Regulation:
- Is the product actually packaging around a separate product?
- If yes, the product is not a packaging-like product. Instead, the product is considered blue box packaging and must be reported as blue box material. If no, continue to the next question.
- Is the product used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery, presentation or transportation of a thing(s)?
- If no, the product is not a packaging-like product. If yes, continue to the next question.
- Is the product typically disposed of after a single use (regardless if some may wash and reuse it)?
- If no, the product is not a packaging-like product. If yes, continue to the next question.
- Is the product made from flexible plastic that is for the containment, protection or handling of food?
- If yes, the product is not a packaging-like product. If no, the product is a packaging-like product and must be reported as blue box material.
If a producer is still unsure whether or not their product is a packaging-like product, they should contact the Compliance and Registry Team at 833-600-0530 or registry@rpra.ca.
