Ontario's New Blue Box Program

The upcoming changes to waste and recycling collection will affect Residential and Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) properties differently.

Homeowners will see minimal changes—curbside collection continues as usual but with an increased number of types.   

Businesses and institutions, will see bigger changes, including the end of curbside recycling collection.

Go to these links to find out more.

The new system will start as of January 1, 2026.  

Curbside collection will continue on the same schedule and at the same bi-weekly frequency. Go to 

You can pick up a copy of the 2026 schedule at the Township office, recreational facilities, and libraries or on this web page.

The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has introduced new legislation that shifts the financial and operational responsibility for recycling from municipalities to the producers of the packaging.  

This new collection model aligns with the Blue Box Regulation made under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act and is a key part of the province's Strategy for a Waste Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy.

The new consolidated system of collection is designed to create efficiencies across the province by standardizing what is recycled and reduce waste going into our landfills. 

Yes. The new common collection system for residential recycling will be implemented province-wide across Ontario in all municipalities including First Nations communities.

We can recycle more than ever before! See Homeowner and Residents or Business and Institutions to find the details on "What Can I Recycle"

Yes, you can use other containers ie. similar sized bin, cardboard box, or clear bag. However, the contractor will not empty the large rolling carts. The trucks do not have the capability to dump them and they are too large to manage by hand. 

You can put out as many blue boxes as you need to.  Please be consistent with sorting into 2 streams: Fiber and Containers. See What Can I Recycle under Homeowners. 

Blue boxes may be purchased at the Municipal Office, 21 Queen St, or the Huron Landfill site, 2087 Concession 6 E for $16.00/box. You can also purchase blue boxes from local retailers at their listed price. 

No, the public depots have been removed by provincial regulation. 

Unfortunately, if you forget to put out your blue box on your day of pick up you will need to hold on to your recyclables until the next collection date. Alternatively, you can sign up for reminders on the BASWR website.

The Blue Box Regulation details in Part II who is considered a producer. Specifically, this includes Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) properties who will no longer receive blue box services through the new system. 

This means many businesses will be affected as the new system requires producers to be responsible for:

• collecting and recycling their blue box materials
• reporting to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority
• meeting targets for materials they recycle

By placing full financial, operational, and performance accountability for the blue box program on the producers of blue box materials, the Ontario government looks to create a direct incentive to reduce waste and improve recycling which will then decrease natural resource extraction and pollution, including greenhouse gases.

Multi-unit residences that have had curbside collection for recyclables, will continue to have curbside collection. New multi-unit builds who do not have curbside collection will need approval from Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (RPRA) to be added.  

Properties that have both a residential unit and a commercial unit ie. retail store with apartment on second floor, will have to follow the two systems. The residence will receive blue box curbside collection for recyclables as it has in the past. The commercial unit will have to manage their own recyclables. Please see the Businesses and Institutions section for details. 

ICI stands for Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional properties. These include:

• Campgrounds
• Churches and Places of Worship
• Commercial farms
• Daycares
• Not for profits 
• Private sector businesses
• Public Buildings such as libraries, arenas, municipal and administrative facilities

The Extended Producer Responsibility model changes who is responsible for the collection, processing, and recycling of materials. It requires those who design, create, and market products to be responsible through its entire life cycle.

This shift encourages more effective production and management of packaging with a goal of overall waste reduction.

A common collection system means that all municipalities and First Nations communities in Ontario will have the same capabilities to recycle the same materials. 

If you are a Homeowner/Resident and you have questions or concerns about your blue box, please call: Bruce Area Solid Waste and Recycling (BASWR)  at 1-800-794-9770.

If you are a Business/Institution and have questions or concerns, please contact the Public Works Department at the Township of Huron-Kinloss 519-395-3735 or info@huronkinloss.com

To learn more about the new Blue Box Program in general, visit Circular Materials for Ontario. You can also contact Circular Materials at 1-877-667-2626 or info@circularmaterials.ca.