The ministry has finalized amendments to the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, under Bill 46, Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025. The amendments took effect upon receiving Royal Assent on December 11, 2025. These changes strengthen transparency and oversight of Ontario’s producer responsibility framework and provide tools to assess system performance and plan future reforms.

Key changes include new authority for the Minister to require the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) to collect and provide specified information, including financial and operational data. The amendments also introduce confidentiality provisions to protect sensitive business information, with limited exceptions for policy evaluation.

In addition, they clarify obligations for Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) and provide authority for regulations that could require PROs to make an offer of service to municipalities for small business collection.

The final amendments have been posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO). To view the finalized amendments, please visit the e-Laws website at Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025.

If you have any questions about the amendments, please contact Marc Peverini, Manager, Resource Recovery Policy Branch at marc.peverini@ontario.ca or (416) 908-1528.

Consultation process
From September 2 to October 17, 2025, RPRA consulted on its proposed Registrant Service Standards. This proposal outlined the proposed standards, as well as the evolution of RPRA’s approach to service delivery.

Registrants were invited to review the proposal and send written feedback by October 17, 2025. RPRA also hosted two webinars to discuss the proposal and answer questions. Recordings of the webinars and presentation slides are linked in the ‘Webinar Materials’ section of this page.

RPRA thanks all participants for their valuable input, which was carefully reviewed and considered when finalizing the standards. All feedback received is captured in the consultation report, which documents how RPRA considered the feedback and questions and answers from the two webinars.

Read the Full Report here.

Published Online: June 19, 2025

Written by: John Michael McGrath

"Earlier this month, the Ontario government proposed major changes to the blue-bin system of recycling collection that, critics say, would substantially weaken the province’s goals for diverting waste from landfills. The proposed changes, still open for public comment until July 4, would extend the timelines for Ontario to hit certain diversion targets from 2030 to 2035. More importantly, they would remove certain obligations from the privately operated consortia that are taking responsibility for recycling away from Ontario municipalities.

This transition is part of the long-term transformation of the blue-bin program from a municipally-operated service to one funded and operated by the companies responsible for creating the packaging and other waste that ends up in landfills. Originating under the Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne in 2016, the Tories inherited and largely continued the blue-bin transition as relatively uncontroversial environmental policy that also promised to remove some cost pressure from municipal taxpayers. ..."

Read the full article here.

The ministry posted proposed amendments to the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, in response to stakeholder requests for increased transparency and continued service to small business.

The proposed changes would enable Ontario’s producer responsibility framework to be more responsive to the needs of businesses, improve transparency and help drive down the cost of the blue box program, while allowing government to better assess the effectiveness of the current framework and inform any future changes.

The proposed amendments have been posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for a 45-day consultation period (June 4, 2025 to July 21, 2025). For details about the proposal, please visit the ERO website at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0536.

If you have any questions about the proposal, please contact Marc Peverini, Manager, Resource Recovery Policy Branch at marc.peverini@ontario.ca or (416) 908-1528.

2024 Annual Report, compliance activity data, resource recovery reports, and registrant survey results now available

RPRA’s 2024 Annual Report is now available. The report captures key activities completed in 2024 in compliance, data analytics, communications, service delivery, and financial performance.

Further details about 2024 activities and data can be found on the following pages:

Compliance activities
Resource recovery reports
Registrant survey

Read the full article here.

As Canada works towards a more sustainable future, the need for a consistent definition of plastics recycling has never been more urgent. Research by CSA Group highlights a significant knowledge gap among Canadian business leaders, with only 36 percent feeling confident in defining plastics recycling.

Furthermore, an overwhelming 92 percent agreed that a unified definition would be essential for effective action. The research findings underscore the need for clarity across the entire plastics recycling supply chain. ..."

Read the full article here. 

NEW Blue Box Transition Non-Eligible Source Council Report Template and Depot Survey Handout

In February, CIF released four Blue Box Transition Council Report Templates and an Infographic to assist communities who were in the process of putting together their own Council reports.

As a follow-up, communities requested CIF to create a new Council Report Template that explains how the transition of the provincial Blue Box Program to full producer responsibility affects blue box service to non-eligible sources. It includes an analysis of different options as well as recommendations staff can make to Council.

This new Non-eligible Source Council Report Template is written as a ‘for information’ report, however, community staff can modify it to be a ‘recommendation’ report if needed. There are yellow highlighted prompts for staff to enter information. Please note that the template is general and must be modified by community staff to capture local circumstances.

CIF has also developed a new CIF Handout - Non-Eligible Source User Information that can be given to depot users with non-eligible source material as surveys are being conducted to gather information to better support recommendations to Council. Your community logo, name, and other information can be added in the yellow prompt boxes. The handout also comes in a half-page layout for staff to print and cut down the middle.

CIF Transition Portal Access 

Ontario bowed to pressure from big supermarket chains - CBC Report courtesy of Mike Crawley, Queens Park Reporter

CBA Deposit Return System Report for DRS Working Group

Improvements to the deceptive marketing practices provisions - June 2024

Under the Competition Act, it is illegal to advertise or market something in a way that is false or misleading.

The changes strengthen the Competition Bureau’s ability to act against bogus discount claims and drip pricing by:

• Requiring that businesses be able to establish that their discount claims are genuine.
• Clarifying that it is misleading to omit mandatory fees from advertised prices, unless those fees are imposed by government on purchasers, such as sales tax.
  • Previously, some firms had interpreted the Competition Act as allowing them to pass their own business taxes and regulatory compliance costs onto consumers as mandatory hidden fees.

The changes also tackle unsupported environmental claims, commonly known as greenwashing, by:

• Requiring that claims about the environmental benefits of a product be supported by adequate and proper testing.
• Requiring that claims about the environmental benefits of a business or business activity be based on adequate and proper substantiation in accordance with an internationally recognized methodology.
• The Bureau is assessing the impact of these requirements and expects to provide guidance, in due course, that will offer transparency and predictability for the business and the legal communities in the enforcement of the law.

Ontario's Transition to EPR Nears One-year Milestone

Published on March 26, 2024

"Technological Advancements and Strategic Innovations Set to Revolutionize the Recycling Experience Across Ontario by 2026

Building on achievements in 2023, July 1, 2024, will mark the one-year milestone since Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit producer-led organization, kick-started Ontario’s transition to extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper material – the first step towards enhanced recycling across the province. This underscores Circular Materials’ commitment to technological advancements and strategic innovation that will help to enhance and harmonize recycling across the province. "

Full Article here. 

Throwing away your kitchen food scraps in the trash can could be breaking a California law in some cases. Starting in 2024, State Law #SB 1383 says cities could fine you for not recycling your food waste.

However, the city of Sacramento is choosing education over enforcement.

It doesn't want to be the garbage police.

"I don't know if I'm breaking the law, but I need to be a little more diligent and keep in the (bin) instead of putting it in the trash or my garbage disposal," said resident Lisa Banuelos. "They don't want that?"

No, the city and the state don't want you to put food scraps in the trash. In Sacramento, the waste should go in residents' green bin with leaves and yard trimmings.

"You have an apple core, leftover chips, dump those chips in the organic waste, throw the bag away. It's not that hard," said Jesa David with the city of Sacramento Recycling and Solid Waste Division.

The city launched its organics waste recycling program in July of 2022 to comply with the state bill, giving away free organics waste bins to keep on your kitchen counter.

"It's not about punishment or penalizing anybody," David said. "We just want to make sure everybody has the right tools."

The bill mandates city and county governments to recycle organic waste to reduce methane greenhouse gas emissions in landfills.

"I'm not out there with my ticket book checking everybody's trash can," said Rachel Machi Wagoner, director of CalRecycle.

CalRecycle is overseeing local governments to follow the law and implement the program. (At least one county, Placer, has a different method where people are encouraged to put their organic waste in trash bins because it will also get sorted later at a county facility.)

Wagoner said the state is well on its way, with 75% of all cities incorporating the recycling program for its residents.

"I really see 2024, like 2023, as a growth opportunity," Wagoner said. "Yes, we are going to start enforcement, but really enforcement is an eye towards compliance and enforcement as an eye towards culture change."

The state's goal is to have 75% of all organic waste recycled.

"When we reach our 75% goal, it will be like taking 3 million cars off of the road," Wagoner said.

In Sacramento, the city already knows what you're throwing away with cameras on all the trucks.

David said they tracked four months of pick-ups and found a 14% increase in organic recycling and a 10% reduction of waste taken to the landfill.

The city knows people still have questions and David said that's what the city is working on, educating over enforcement so the city doesn't get a fine from the state.

"It's more about getting people to comply with the law to help recycle organics and do the right thing, other than trying to punish anybody," she said.

Other cities are also choosing to waive fines.

"SB1383 does have an enforcement provision that begins on Jan. 1, 2024. Our Waste and Recycling Division’s goal is education and coaching to ensure compliance whenever out-of-compliance customers are brought to their attention. Right now, they have no plans to fine residents for non-compliance," said Chris Shepard with the city of Folsom.

Maria Chacon Kniestedt withthe City of Rancho Cordova said, "To comply with SB 1383, and beginning Jan. 1, 2024, route audits will continue but those out of compliance will receive a notice of violation and a 30-day opportunity to correct, in addition to education. If someone is still out of compliance with state law, they could receive an administrative citation and an additional 10 days to correct. Our focus remains on education, so residents have numerous opportunities to correct. Education and compliance are the goals; fining residents is not the goal. Ultimately, this is about improving the environment for all."

Sacramento County spokesperson Brenda Bongiorno said: "Regarding non-compliance after education: When unacceptable materials are found in a cart by collection staff, they will attach a cart tag that provides education about what was found. Depending on the circumstances, the cart may not be serviced until the issue has been corrected and a non-regular collection day fee could apply for a return trip to service the cart. Also, if the problem continues, a customer may need to update their service level to increase the type, size or number of carts issued. But to reiterate, in tandem, we will call/visit the customer to explain the importance and/or mail a letter explaining the importance with educational materials."

Placer County has a different system that's known as 'one big bin'

A Placer County official pointed out that her county is an exception, where people are actually encouraged to put their food waste in their trash, not a yard waste case.

That's because all organic waste dumped in garbage bins will be sorted, and composted, for households, along with organic waste at shopping centers, gas stations and fast-food restaurants.

"Placer County’s communities have used a unique recycling system for thirty years, sometimes referred to as the 'One Big Bin,' where residents and businesses toss all waste into one garbage bin that’s picked up weekly and then we sort through the entire waste stream for recyclables and compostable material for them at our Materials Recovery Facility," Emily Hoffman said. "Last year, we embarked on a multi-year, $120 million project to renovate our recycling facilities at our campus in Roseville, to ensure we will be able to divert more than 75% of the organic waste in the waste stream and nearly triple the amount of recyclable material we divert from landfill disposal."

This is an updated version of the Blue Box Transition Implementation Checklist of Communities. 

It contains 22 updates and eight new questions to reflect current guidance/information from Circular Materials and RPRA, and new resources developed by CIF and learnings from Ontario communities who transitioned earlier in 2023. 

Available only through CIF's Online Portal.

Transition Portal - Request Access

The portal contains resources, information, and tools to support the transition of Ontario's blue box program to a producer responsibility framework. Access to the portal is limited to current blue box operators, including municipalities, service boards, and First Nations. 

In April 2023, CIF developed a Blue Box Producer Calculator to help municipalities determine their producer status and whether they have reporting and management obligations. RPRA approved the calculator for use by municipalities for the reporting periods ONLY from 2021 (2020 data) to 2024 (2023 data), noting that CIF would need to update the paper generation rate with six new datasets and seek approval for municipalities to use the Calculator in 2024 (2023 data). 

Available through CIF's Online Portal only

Transition Portal - Request Access

The portal contains resources, information, and tools to support the transition of Ontario's blue box program to a producer responsibility framework. Access to the portal is limited to current blue box operators, including municipalities, service boards, and First Nations. 

Canada’s ban on single-use plastic may be in question after a new ruling by the Federal Court.

In a decision released on Nov. 16, Justice Angela Furlanetto deemed a federal government order listing plastic manufactured items such as plastic bags, straws, and takeout containers as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to be “unreasonable and unconstitutional.”

The judge’s decision found that the classification of plastics in the order was too broad to be listed on the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 and the government acted outside of its authority.

“There is no reasonable apprehension that all listed [plastic manufactured] items are harmful,” Furlanetto wrote in her ruling.

The challenge to the federal government’s proposed ban was brought last year by the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition (RPUC), several chemical companies, and the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. They collectively argued that the federal government had failed to demonstrate that it had enough scientific evidence to justify the regulations. The RPUC was formed in 2021 in response to the toxic designation, and currently includes more than 30 processors and resin makers, including Berry Global Group Inc., CCC Plastics, Dow Inc., Ingenia Polymers, IPL, LyondellBasell Industries, and Nova Chemicals Corp. In a Nov. 16 statement, the RPUC said it supported the decision. “In the interest of Canadians who rely on plastic products that are essential to everyday life, we believe that federal government and industry can work collaboratively to reduce plastic waste and we look forward to developing solutions together,” the organization said.

Having plastic items defined as toxic under CEPA was a crucial step that would have allowed the government to proceed with a ban on some single-use plastic items, including plastic checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, stir sticks and straws. The single-use plastic prohibition is set to take effect after Dec. 20.

Environment and Climate Change Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a statement that the federal government is “strongly considering an appeal” of the decision, but some provincial politicians are already urging the feds not to do so. “The federal government’s decision to unilaterally label perfectly safe plastic consumer products as ‘toxic’ has had wide-ranging consequences for Alberta’s economic interests and has put thousands of jobs and billions of investments at risk,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas, in a joint statement. “It’s time for the federal government to listen to the courts and to Canadians. We urge them to not appeal this decision, and to immediately delete ‘plastic manufactured items’ from Schedule 1 of the current Canadian Environmental Protection Act so as to avoid further need of legal action by Alberta and other provinces.”

The transition of the legacy Blue Box Program operated under the Waste Diversion Transition Act, 2016 to the new Blue Box Regulation issued under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, and the winding up of the Datacall, provides an opportunity to review Ontario’s residential waste management data reported into the Datacall over the past two decades and the overall trends: Found Here

"A confidential report from city staff recommends Toronto not bid on a contract for curbside recyclable collection after 2026." 

Published: October 2, 2023

By: David Rider, City Hall Bureau Chief

ANNOUNCEMENT: CIF Operations Approved for a One Year Extension

CIF Is pleased to announce that we have been approved for a one-year extension!

On September 26 and 28, 2023, the following resolution was passed by the CIF Governance Committee:

Authorize the CIF to continue operations for one additional year, 2024, and that the administrative activities associated with the windup be completed in the first six months of 2025, in accordance with the Windup Plan (approved in 2020) and the Administrative Windup Plan (outlined in the 2023 Full Year Operations Plan).

The passing of the resolution reflects the strong support for a one-year extension of CIF operations from community stakeholders. CIF thanks our stakeholders for their support and we look forward to continuing to develop resources to help Ontario municipalities, local service boards and First Nation communities with the blue box transition to full producer responsibility.

Over the next few weeks, we will reach out to stakeholders for feedback on our 2024 Operations Plan. Visit the CIF's website here https://thecif.ca/ 

Published: September 7, 2023

Introduction: The objective of AMO's Ontario Baseline Waste and Recycling Report is to provide a better understanding of the Ontario government's efforts to tackle non-hazardous solid waste (past, present, and future) and to assess its performance and identify actions that may be necessary to meet its goals.

Waste remains a significant area of interest to municipal governments especially given costs and generation rates are steadily increasing; more waste is ending up in our environment, including waterways, parks, and communities; and the province's available disposal capacity is rapidly diminishing. 

The report includes a number of recommendations, including a focus on IC&I waste diversion, EPR and material designations enhancements, and ensuring proper third-party oversight. The full report can be read or downloaded here: 

https://www.amo.on.ca/sites/default/files/assets/DOCUMENTS/Waste/2023/AMO-ON-Baseline-2023-v6-AODA.pdf 

Comment or questions, please direct them to: Dave Gordon, Senior Advisor, Waste Diversion

dgordon@amo.on.ca

Tel: 416-971-9856

The Association of Municipalities Ontario has published a draft discussion paper on new materials the provincial government should designate under EPR regulations, including textiles, furniture, electrical and electronic equipment, mattresses, & hazardous or special products. 

The paper was developed with input from the Municipal 3R’s Collaborative and AMO’s Waste Management Task Force. With many Councils passing resolutions seeking further designations, AMO hopes this discussion paper provides data and analysis needed to consider future designations as laid out in the Made in Ontario Environment Plan.

To read and download the paper, see here: AMO Discussion Paper: "Where to From Here: Expanding designated materials under RRCEA"

AMO encourages you to take a look and see which items may be best to address priorities in your local communities.

If you have comments or questions, please direct them to Dave Gordon, Senior Advisor, Waste Diversion at dgordon@amo.on.ca