Established in November 2016 to support the transition to a waste-free Ontario, the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) administers the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016 (RRCEA) and its associated regulations. Below, we cover which materials RPRA regulates, a snapshot of compliance activities, RPRA enforcement, and current problems with the tire recycling program.
What is Covered by RPRA
RPRA is the regulator mandated by the Government of Ontario to enforce the province’s circular economy laws. The program covers the following:
- Tires
- Batteries and Electronics
- Household Hazardous Products (Oil filters, Oil containers, Antifreeze, Pesticides, Solvents, Paints and coatings, Non-refillable pressurized containers, Refillable pressurized containers, Refillable propane containers, Fertilizers, and Mercury-containing barometers, thermometers, and thermostats)
- Blue Box Materials (Products and packaging included in the Blue Box Regulation are those primarily composed of glass, flexible or rigid plastic, metal, and paper, or a combination of these materials)
Source RPRA.
Also see the RPRA Compliance Bulletin for a detailed breakdown of products covered.
In February 2026, environmental policy consultant Peter Hargreave said, “The system is self-imploding.” He said that the situation is “just depressing.”
2025 RPRA Compliance Activities
On August 16, 2026, the RPRA published the 2025 compliance activities. The RPRA 2025 compliance report includes the following:
- 68% of producer supply reports were submitted on time
- 81% of producer performance reports were submitted on time
- 6,136 inspection cases opened
- 3,933 non-compliance cases opened
- 83% of non-compliance cases closed (3,267)
- 278 free riders (businesses that may be required to register as a producer with the RPRA but have not yet done so) brought into compliance with registration requirements
- 548 potential free riders determined not obligated to register
- 826 total free rider cases closed
For more information, see the 2025 RPRA Compliance Activities Report.
RPRA Enforcement
RPRA has a webpage dedicated to Compliance Orders and Administrative Penalties. This page includes Compliance Orders and Administrative Penalties. The data includes the company name, the program for which they are being cited (i.e., Blue Box, Tires, Batteries…), and a link to more detailed information about the order or penalty. See
Some of these penalties can be significant. In our August 7, 2026, blog post, we discussed the Administrative Penalties issued against three battery manufacturing companies.
- Duracell Canada Inc. – $1M
- Energizer Canada – $1M
- Panasonic Canada – $782K
In our October 2, 2024, blog, we covered RPRA’s first six-figure fine. That fine ($340,457.04) was an Administrative Penalty Order to Casper Sleep Inc. for (1) failing to establish and operate a collection system for Blue Box materials in 2023 as required under S. 19 of O. Reg. 391/21 and (2) for failing to implement a promotion and education program in 2023, as required under S. 69 of the Blue Box Regulation.
RPRA Tire Problems
Numerous reports have described problems with the tire recycling program. In one report, a repair shop said it had to close a repair bay to store used tires that were not being picked up for recycling.
In December 2025, Adam Moffatt of the Ontario Tire Dealers Association said of the accumulation of tires, “Tire dealers, automotive shops, they’re piling up everywhere.” The problem, according to Moffatt, is that the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks changed the tire recycling goal from 80% to 65%; this was well below what was being recycled. So, when tire manufacturers hit their quota, there was no incentive for them to continue with their pickups.
In February 2026, Peter Hargreave, an environmental policy consultant, said, “The system is self-imploding.” He said that the situation is “just depressing.”
Recently, RPRA announced plans to increase the recycling targets from 65% to 80%. Moffatt said, “We are entering the busiest time of year. The question is: Is that enough to get the large backlog of tires that’s present in Ontario cleaned up on top of maintaining the current generation of tires that we see on a normal daily basis?”
The problems with the tire recycling program are one of several that RPRA needs to address. For more information regarding areas of needed improvement under RPRA, see the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario’s Report: “Performance Audit Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority.”
We will continue to provide updates on the RPRA program in future blogs.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact Christopher Paré, P.Geo., or Ehsan Momemi, P.Eng., at 519-948-7300, Ext. 114 and Ext.123, respectively.
Alan Hahn drafted this blog. Alan has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and completed a graduate program in Environmental Management. He has worked in environmental management for more than 45 years. He has written hundreds of blogs and articles. His published work includes HazMat Magazine, BizX Magazine, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, GreenStone Partners, Manure Manager Magazine, and Progressive Dairy.
Christopher Paré, P.Geo., reviewed this blog. Chris is a senior geoscientist and manager of Dragun’s Windsor, Ontario, office. Chris has more than 35 years of experience on projects ranging from environmental site assessments (Phase One/Two ESA), excess soils, remedial investigations, soil and groundwater remediation, Permits to Take Water, Records of Site Conditions, vapour intrusion, and site decommissioning. Chris is a frequent speaker, author, and expert witness. See Chris’ bio.
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