Changes to the Toxics Reduction Program

We’ve made changes to the Toxics Reduction Program to eliminate duplication with the federal government’s Chemicals Management Plan under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and reduce burden for industry.

On December 31, 2021, the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 will be repealed and its associated regulations revoked , ending the Toxics Reduction Program. Until this time, facilities must continue to meet the requirements of the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 and its associated regulations.

As a result of regulatory changes, facilities no longer need to prepare new toxic substance reduction plans or review their existing plans. Facilities with existing plans are still required to report annually on substances that meet thresholds.

Reporting and plan summary requirements

The Toxics Reduction Program requires regulated facilities with existing toxics substance reduction plans to:

  • track and account for each prescribed substance at the facility: how it is used, created, released, recycled, disposed of, transferred and contained in product(s).
  • submit an annual report to the ministry and make certain parts of the report available to the public, and notify employees within five days of providing it to the public.
  • ensure that the most current toxic substance reduction plan summary remains posted online.

Annual report

Regulated facilities with existing toxic substance reduction plans must submit annual reports that account for all the prescribed toxic substances they create and use. Ministry guidance is available to assist facilities in preparing their annual report.

Facilities must:

  • submit their annual report to the ministry
  • make certain parts of the report available to the public
  • notify employees within five days of providing it to the public

Facilities must submit their annual report for the previous calendar year by the federal National Pollutant Release Inventory compliance date (usually June 1).

For the 2018 calendar year and onwards, facilities do not need to prepare a toxics reduction plan or report on a substance under the Toxics Reduction Program for the following situations:

  • They have never planned or reported under the Toxics Reduction Program, but now meet the reporting threshold for one or more toxic substances;
  • They have been out of the program for three or more years for a toxic substance either as a result of submitting three consecutive exemption records or having submitted an exit record three or more years ago, but are coming back into the program because the exemption no longer applies to them or they again meet the planning criteria for that substance; or
  • They are currently planning and reporting under the program, and now meet the reporting thresholds for a new toxic substance at the facility in 2018 or later.

Reminder: reporting on new substances that meet the thresholds is still required to the National Pollutant Release Inventory and other partner programs. The last year that facilities will be required to submit an annual report under the Toxics Reduction Program is 2021 on or before the federal National Pollutant Release Inventory compliance date.

Toxic substance reduction plans

Facilities are not required to prepare a plan in 2018 or any subsequent year.

Facilities with existing plans may still choose to voluntarily amend their plans at any time. Amended plans must be certified by the highest ranking employee at the facility and by a licensed Toxic Substance Reduction Planner. Implementation of all existing amended plans is voluntary.

Plan summaries

Facilities that choose to voluntarily amend an existing Toxic Substance Reduction Plan must submit a plan summary to the ministry and make it available to the public. Facilities with existing plan summaries posted online must remain posted. Facilities must also notify employees of the summary within five days of making it available to the public.

A plan summary of an amended plan is due within 30 days after the new version of the plan is prepared.

How to comply

Facilities submit requirements using Environment Canada’s Single Window system.

Who the law applies to

The Toxics Reduction Act and Ontario Regulation 455/09 under the Act apply to certain Ontario facilities that:

  • undertake manufacturing or mineral processing activities that involve prescribed substances;
  • are reporting on an existing toxic substance reduction plan; and
  • are required to provide information under:
    • Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory; and/or
    • Ontario Regulation 127/01, Airborne Contaminant Discharge Monitoring and Reporting, under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).

Licensed toxic substance reduction planners

As required, the ministry works with its partners to prepare and deliver the training and licensing program for toxic substance reduction planners, in order to meet the needs of the program.

Voluntary amended plans require certification from a licensed Toxic Substance Reduction Planner.

More information about Toxic Substance Reduction Planners.

Listing of licensed Toxic Substance Reduction Planners in Ontario.

More resources

Use the interactive map to search information on facilities that have reported under the Toxics Reduction Program.

Learn more about Ontario’s progress in reducing toxic substances.

Contact

For questions about submitting a report or plan summary, email us.

For questions about toxic substance reduction planners, email us.