Frequently asked questions

The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (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 framework by ensuring businesses meet their recycling responsibilities and are properly collecting and recycling their materials across the province.

RPRA currently oversees six recycling programs in Ontario: batteries, Blue Box materials, electronics, household hazardous materials, lighting and tires.

To learn more, read our “What is the circular economy?” FAQ.

The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) is the regulator mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce the province’s circular economy laws. 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.

The Where to Recycle map displays locations across Ontario where you can drop off used materials for free to be recycled, such as batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, antifreeze, pesticides), lighting and tires. 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. 

The map does not display locations for Blue Box materials because they are typically collected directly from residences. For more information on recycling Blue Box materials, visit Circular Materials’ website. Circular Materials is the administrator of Ontario’s Blue Box program.

The Where to Recycle map displays locations that 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. For specific examples of materials accepted and important information to know before dropping off materials, visit the Where to Recycle Map page.

The map does not display locations for Blue Box materials because they are typically collected directly from residences. For more information on recycling Blue Box materials, visit Circular Materials’ website.

In Ontario, if you purchase batteries, electronics, household hazardous and special products, lighting, tires, or materials that end up in your Blue Box, you may see an extra charge added to your receipt called an environmental fee, resource recovery fee, environmental handling fee, tire handling fee, eco-⁠fee, recycling fee or something similar.

Businesses have the choice to recover the cost of recycling their products by incorporating those costs into the overall cost of their product (as they do with other costs, such as materials, labour, other regulatory compliance costs, etc.) or by charging it as a separate fee to consumers, which are sometimes known as an environmental fee.

Environmental fees are not mandatory and are applied at the discretion of the business charging them, including the amount of the fee.

As of January 1, 2026, the Blue Box Program has fully transitioned to producers of packaging, paper products and packaging-⁠like products and municipalities are no longer responsible for operating or funding the program.

The transition of the Blue Box Program is part of the Ontario government’s circular economy initiative where producers are required to be financially responsible and accountable for their products and packaging when consumers are finished using them.

Circular Materials is the organization responsible for administering the Blue Box collection system on behalf of producers.

For questions specific to your Blue Box collection service, please  visit their website and type in your community name for more information or contact them at [email protected] or 1-877-667-2626.