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SPI Regulation Tracker

Packaging rule · Canada · EPR

Ontario Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg. 391/21) full producer responsibility

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) rule covering plastic, paper and board, metal, glass in Ontario, Canada, set by Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks / RPRA. Applies since 1 January 2026.

By the SPI teamRule ID PR-CA-003Source consulted 13 October 2026Sourced, awaiting second check
Sourced facts

The rule

Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.

Jurisdiction
Canada · Ontario
Authority
Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks / RPRA
Rule type
EPR
Materials
Plastic, Paper and board, Metal, Glass
Status
In force Enacted
Adopted or published
3 June 2021
Applies from
1 January 2026
From the source

“As of January 1, 2026, Ontario's Blue Box Program has completed the transition to full producer responsibility of packaging, paper products and packaging-like products and municipalities are no longer responsible for operating or funding the program.”

Official source RPRA: Ontario completes transition to producer-run Blue Box programOfficial (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026

Deadlines

Key dates

  1. Adopted or published 5 years ago

  2. Applies from 9 months ago

  3. Source consulted by the SPI team today

SPI analysis

What it means

SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

SPI summary

Producers of packaging and paper products became fully responsible for Ontario's Blue Box program on 1 January 2026 after a 2023-2025 transition. September 2025 amendments set best-efforts obligations for 2026-2027 and allow up to 15% of requirements via energy-from-waste.

In practice

Since 1 January 2026 producers of packaging, paper products and packaging-like products supplied to Ontario consumers carry full operational and financial responsibility for the Blue Box program, with municipalities no longer running or funding it. Brand holders, importers, retailers and marketplace facilitators register with RPRA, report supply tonnage each year by 31 May and meet management requirements, usually through a producer responsibility organisation. September 2025 amendments set best-efforts obligations for 2026 and 2027 and allow up to 15% of each category requirement to be met by energy from waste.

Who is in scope

  • Producers of Blue Box materials: brand holders resident in Canada, then Ontario importers, retailers or marketplace facilitators in that order
  • Packaging, paper products and packaging-like products of paper, glass, metal, plastic or combinations supplied to Ontario consumers
  • Seven reporting categories, including flexible plastic, rigid plastic and certified compostable products

Who is not

  • Producers with under $2,000,000 gross annual Ontario revenue
  • Producers below category weight thresholds only register and report, without management obligations
  • Newspaper-dominant producers are exempt from collection, management and promotion duties

What to do and by when

  1. NowConfirm which entity is the obligated producer for each brand supplied into Ontario.
  2. 31 May 2027Prepare 2026 supply data and performance reporting, noting the best-efforts years.
  3. 2027Budget for the first three-yearly performance audit covering 2024 to 2026.
  4. 1 January 2032Plan design and recovery for higher 2032 rates, including 60% rigid and 25% flexible plastic.

Related rules

  • PR-CA-004 British Columbia packaging and paper product EPR (Recycle BC)
    British Columbia's long-running producer-funded packaging and paper program.
  • PR-CA-006 Quebec modernized selective collection (EPR) system
    Quebec's modernised selective collection EPR, the other large provincial system.
  • PR-CA-002 Federal Plastics Registry reporting (CEPA s.46 notice)
    Federal plastics reporting overlaps with Ontario supply reporting.
  • PR-GB-002 UK packaging EPR regulations (pEPR) 2024
    UK packaging EPR with similar producer reporting and cost coverage.

Where the record is unclear

  • When mandatory management requirements resume after the 2026-2027 best-efforts period is not stated on the RPRA pages reviewed.
  • Further RPRA guidance on away-from-home beverage containers was expected before the 2026 reporting period.

Sources for this note

  1. RPRA: Ontario completes transition to producer-run Blue Box program Consulted 13 October 2026
  2. RPRA: Changes to the Blue Box Regulation, management requirements and energy from waste Consulted 13 October 2026
  3. RPRA: Blue Box Producers Consulted 13 October 2026

Note written by the SPI team on 13 October 2026.

Where it sits in the tracker

  • One of 6 packaging rules we track in Canada, of which 3 are EPR rules.
  • In all, 25 EPR rules are tracked across 15 jurisdictions. Compare them below

Company profiles that map to this rule

Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.

Audit trail

Change history

Sourced: an SPI analyst recorded the facts above from the official source. A second SPI team member has not re-checked it yet. Every change is logged here.

  1. Changed: rate note

  2. Verified by a second SPI team member

  3. Changed: quote

  4. Added to the tracker

Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-CA-003 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

EPR rules elsewhere

The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
Containers and Packaging Recycling ActPR-JP-002JapanEPRPlastic, Paper and board, GlassIn force1 April 1997
Packaging EPR (Resolution 1407 of 2018)PR-CO-001ColombiaEPRAll packagingIn force2 August 2018
Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations and paper and packaging schemePR-ZA-001South AfricaEPRAll packagingIn force5 May 2021
EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II)PR-IN-001IndiaEPRPlasticIn force16 February 2022
Reverse logistics recycling credit certificates (Decree 11.413/2023)PR-BR-001BrazilEPRAll packagingIn force14 April 2023
Packaging collection and recovery targets under Ley REP (DS 12/2020)PR-CL-001ChileEPRAll packagingIn force16 September 2023
Sustainable Waste Management (EPR) Regulations, 2024PR-KE-002KenyaEPRAll packagingIn force4 November 2024
UK packaging EPR regulations (pEPR) 2024PR-GB-002United KingdomEPRAll packagingIn force1 January 2025
Maryland packaging and paper products producer responsibility (SB 901)PR-US-007Maryland, United StatesEPRPlastic, Paper and board, Metal, GlassIn force1 June 2025
Minnesota Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction ActPR-US-006Minnesota, United StatesEPRAll packagingIn force1 July 2025

Every EPR rule in the tracker

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