Frequently asked questions

Consumer protection laws in Ontario prohibits the misrepresentation of charges, which means that producers or retailers cannot misrepresent any visible fees as a regulatory charge, tax, RPRA fee or something similar. Consumers who have questions or concerns about a specific transaction or want to report a misrepresentation can contact the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery at 1-800-889-9768.

As it relates to the ‘How much is recycled’ data on Ontario Recycles, “supplied” means the weight of material businesses provide (e.g., sell, rent, gift) to consumers in Ontario each year.

See our ‘What does “recycled” mean?’ and ‘Who is considered a “consumer”?’ FAQs.

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.

No. An environmental fee is not a government tax and cannot be represented as mandatory, a regulatory charge, or an RPRA fee. It is a fee charged at the discretion of a business to recover their costs related to recycling the product.

If you are a consumer and believe that the purpose of a fee is being misrepresented, contact the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery directly at 1-800-889-9768.

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.

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.

No. Public recycling locations (that are displayed on RPRA’s Where to Recycle map) cannot charge the public a fee or refuse the drop-⁠off of materials that the location accepts.  

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.

For more information on what materials are accepted for recycling at specific locations, see the Where to Recycle Map page.

If you are charged a fee or refused drop off at a specific location, click the ‘Report an Issue’ link on that specific location. This link will open a form for you to fill out about the issue. The issue will be reviewed, and action will be taken, as necessary.

In the circular economy, waste is reimagined. Instead of throwing things away when we’re finished using them, the precious resources that go into everyday items like water bottles, lightbulbs and tires, are given a second life.

Ontario is making a shift towards a circular economy by introducing laws that make businesses responsible for collecting and recycling the products and packaging they sell once consumers are finished with them. This system is called extended producer responsibility or EPR.

EPR is a driver of the circular economy by:

• Making businesses fully responsible for the cost and operations of Ontario’s recycling programs
• Setting enforceable requirements and targets for recycling
• Establishing a regulatory body to oversee the proper collection and recycling of materials

The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) is the regulator responsible for enforcing Ontario’s circular economy laws and making sure businesses fulfill their recycling requirements.

Visit our “What is the circular economy” page for more information.