Topic: Reporting

Why were the requirements under the Excess Soil Regulation paused in 2022?

On April 21, 2022, the Ontario Government announced a temporary suspension of the registration and reporting requirements under the Excess Soil Regulation. The requirements were suspended until January 1, 2023. The Excess Soil Registry remained open for users during the pause.

As of January 1, construction and development Project Leaders and Operators/Owners of soil Reuse Sites and Residential Development Soil Depot sites are required to register and file notices about how they reuse and dispose of excess soil in Ontario through RPRA’s Excess Soil Registry.

Do the amendments to the Excess Soil Regulation made in 2022 change anything for me?

In December 2022, the Government of Ontario finalized amendments to O. Reg. 406/19: On-Site and Excess Soil Regulation (Excess Soil Regulation) and the Rules for Soil Management and Excess Soil Quality Standards (Soil Rules), which came into effect January 1, 2023.

If a project triggers the filing requirements under the Excess Soil Regulation, the process for filing notices has not changed.
However, the amended regulation may affect the types of projects for which a notice is required to be filed through the Excess Soil Registry.

The two key amendments made to the regulation mean:

  • Reuse planning requirements are not triggered for projects defined as “low-risk project areas”, being a property at which the current or last property use was agricultural or other, residential, parkland or institutional (as defined under O. Reg. 153/04), that would otherwise have been triggered to complete reuse planning requirements as a result of being located within an area of settlement and removing at least 2,000m3 of excess soil. Other triggers for reuse planning may still apply.
  • The limit on the maximum size of soil storage piles (previously 2,500 m3) has been removed. Other soil storage rules would continue to apply, including the requirement to prevent any adverse effects.

If you have questions about the Excess Soil Regulation or the amendments, contact the ministry at MECP.LandPolicy@ontario.ca.

See our FAQ to see “Who needs to file notices?”

Are cheques an obligated material?

Yes, cheques are an obligated material and should be reported under the paper material category. If you have questions regarding how to determine whether you are the brand holder and are obligated to report the supply of cheques, please reach out to the Compliance & Registry team at registry@rpra.ca.

As a lighting producer who has registered, what other requirements do I need to meet?

As of January 1, 2023, 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 the Authority 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 registry@rpra.ca or 1-833-600-0530.

As a lighting producer, what data do I submit to RPRA?

In 2022, lighting producers will report the total weight of obligated lighting supplied into Ontario from 2018, 2019 and 2020. Producers will report the total weight (kg) for each year required.

Starting in 2023, lighting producers will report data from two preceding years (i.e., 2021 supply data reported in 2023).

Producers can use the actual weight of the obligated lighting, or RPRA’s weight conversion factors found in the EEE Verification and Audit Procedure.

For further questions, contact the Compliance and Registry Team at registry@rpra.ca or 1-833-600-0530.

How do I determine if I am an exempt lighting producer?

A lighting producer qualifies for an exemption if their management requirement isn’t more than 350 kg. The lighting producer is exempt from the following:

  • Registering and reporting to RPRA;
  • Establishing a collection and management system and meeting a management requirement; and
  • Promotion and education requirements.

Management requirements are calculated using the formulas in the table below. For the 2022 reporting period, producers need to determine if they will be exempt for the 2023 performance period.

Performance PeriodFormulaExemption threshold (kg)Exempt if average annual supply less than (kg)
2023(2018 supply + 2019 supply + 2020 supply) / 3×30%3501167
2024(2019 supply + 2020 supply + 2021 supply) / 3×30%3501167
2025(2020 supply + 2021 supply + 2022 supply) / 3×30%3501167
2026(2021 supply + 2022 supply + 2023 supply) / 3×40%350875
2027(2022 supply + 2023 supply + 2024 supply) / 3×50%350700

Producers not required to register and report are required to keep records as set out in section 30 of the regulation. Note: The minimum management requirement percentage increases for the 2025 supply report (2026 performance year) and subsequent years. While some producers may be exempt one year, they might not be exempt in subsequent years. Producers must verify that they continue to meet the exemption each year using the table above.

Producers are encouraged to confirm their exemption with the Compliance Team at registry@rpra.ca or 1-833-600-0530.

See our FAQ to understand “How are lighting producers’ minimum management requirements determined?” and “What do I have to do if I am an exempt lighting producer?

What do I have to do if I am an exempt lighting producer?

An exempt producer is not required to:

  • Register and report to RPRA;
  • Establish a collection and management system and meet a management requirement; and
  • Promotion and education requirements.

Exempt producers must retain records related to the weight of lighting supplied into Ontario each year and provide them to the Authority upon request.

See our FAQ to understand “How do I determine if I am an exempt lighting producer?

Are beverage containers eligible for a producer’s allowable deductions for Blue Box materials that are deposited into a receptacle at a location that is a) not an eligible source, and b) where the product related to the Blue Box material was supplied and used or consumed?

No, beverage containers are not eligible for this deduction.

The allowable deduction is permitted for Blue Box materials that are deposited into a “non-eligible source,” meaning a place where consumers dispose of Blue Box materials that are not included in the producer-run collection system.

Under the Blue Box Regulation, beverage containers that are supplied to Ontario consumers for personal, family, household or business purposes are obligated Blue Box materials. The inclusion of “business purposes” is unique to the beverage container material category.

Because supplying a beverage container can mean either supplying for “personal, family and/or household purposes” that will likely be consumed and disposed of in a residential context (e.g., a home, apartment, long-term care facility, etc.) or supplying for “business purposes” that will likely be consumed and disposed of in a commercial or institutional context (e.g., a restaurant, college or gym), there are no “non-eligible sources” for beverage containers. All beverage containers must be reported and collected from all sources, whether they are residential, business, commercial or institutional.

See our FAQ to understand “What deductions are available to producers under the Blue Box Regulation?

How do I pay my fees to RPRA by electronic data interchange (EDI)?

If you select electronic data interchange (EDI) as your method of payment, this is an electronic payment through your bank, also commonly known as EFT or ACH.

Follow these steps to complete your payment:

  1. Submit your payment using RPRA’s banking information provided on your invoice.
  2. Be sure to reference your Invoice Number when you submit this payment to your bank so that we will be able to identify your payment.

Please note:

  • Registry invoices are considered due on receipt.
  • Invoices are in CAD funds and payments must be sent in CAD.
  • It may take 1-2 weeks for your payment to be reflected in your Registry account once you have completed it.

If you have questions relating to fee payment, contact our Compliance and Registry Team at registry@rpra.ca or call 647-496-0530 or toll-free at 1-833-600-0530.

How do I pay my fees to RPRA by cheque?

If you select cheque as your method of payment, follow these steps to complete your payment:

  1. Make your cheque payable to “Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority”
  2. Enter your Invoice Number on the memo line of the cheque
  3. Please send your cheque to*:
    • Resource Productivity Recovery Authority
    • PO Box 46114, STN A
    • Toronto, ON
    • M5W 4K9

*As of January 20, 2023, the address for mailing cheques to RPRA has been revised. Please update your records and send cheques to the above address going forward.

Please note:

  • Registry invoices are considered due on receipt.
  • Invoices are in CAD funds and payments must be sent in CAD.
  • It may take 2-4 weeks for your payment to be reflected in your Registry account once you have mailed your cheque due to mail and cheque processing times.

If you have questions relating to fee payment, contact our Compliance and Registry Team at registry@rpra.ca or call 647-496-0530 or toll-free at 1-833-600-0530.

How do I pay my fees to RPRA by electronic bill?

If you select electronic bill payment as your method of payment, this method of payment is done through your online banking account, using the bill payment functionality. It is available at major Canadian banks (e.g., TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, etc.).

Follow these steps to complete your payment:

  1. Log in to your bank account.
  2. Go to the bill payment section and choose to add a payee.
  3. Search for and select “RPRA” as the payee.
  4. Once “RPRA” is selected, enter your registration number as the account number to make your payment. Your registration number can be found on your invoice.

Please note:

  • Registry invoices are considered due on receipt.
  • Invoices are in CAD funds and payments must be sent in CAD.
  • It may take 1-2 weeks for your payment to be reflected in your Registry account once you have completed it.

If you have questions relating to fee payment, contact our Compliance and Registry Team at registry@rpra.ca or call 647-496-0530 or toll-free at 1-833-600-0530.