Finalized Amendments to the Blue Box Regulation to Expand Deductions for Producers

Ontario is working to create a more effective extended producer responsibility framework, including transitioning the blue box service to a producer responsibility model starting July 1, 2023.

On June 26, 2023, the government finalized administrative changes to the blue box regulation that will ensure producers’ supply reporting is better aligned with the amount of material in the blue box system. Specifically, the amendments will:

• expand permitted deductions used to set management requirements

• harmonize annual reporting deadlines with other jurisdictions

The draft amendments were posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for a 30-day consultation period, starting May 17, 2023. For details about the changes, visit the ERO website at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-6962.

Producers will be able to claim expanded deductions through a revised report on July 31, 2023, with expanded deductions reporting implemented as part of annual reports each year thereafter. For questions on this process, contact the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority at info@rpra.ca or 1-833-600-0530.

If you have any questions about the amendments, contact Stephanie Papadimitriou, Senior Policy Analyst, Resource Recovery Policy Branch at stephanie.papadimitriou@ontario.ca or 437-214-8463.