What is Ontario Recycles?
The Ontario Recycles website was created in 2026 by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) to keep the public informed about the circular economy and recycling in Ontario.
Ontario Recycles provides an overview of the province’s recycling programs that RPRA oversees for batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste, lighting, tires, and Blue Box materials, including where to recycle these materials using RPRA’s Where to Recycle map and how much material is recycled each year.
What is RPRA?
RPRA is the regulator mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce the province’s recycling laws. These laws operate under Ontario’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework, which requires the businesses that supply products and packaging into the province to collect and recycle them after consumers have finished using them.
RPRA plays a key role in Ontario’s EPR system by ensuring businesses meet their recycling responsibilities. This includes operating an online registry where businesses report on the amount of materials they supply to Ontarians and how much of this material is recycled. The registry helps to ensure that businesses are fulfilling their legal requirements and materials are properly collected and recycled across the province. RPRA also shares this data publicly to keep people informed about Ontario’s progress in advancing a circular economy.
Businesses that do not meet their legal requirements may face enforcement action by RPRA. This can include investigations, monetary penalties and prosecution. By enforcing these laws, RPRA helps support waste reduction and resource recovery in Ontario.
In addition to Ontario Recycles, RPRA operates a corporate website with more detailed information about these circular economy laws.
Why did RPRA create Ontario Recycles?
RPRA is also responsible for providing information about resource recovery and waste reduction in Ontario to the public—which is why Ontario Recycles was created.
Ontario Recycles and RPRA’s corporate site are intended for two distinct audiences with different types of information and presentation. Ontario Recycles is designed for people interested in general information about what and where to recycle in Ontario, while recycling program registrants are encouraged to visit www.rpra.ca for more information about their requirements.