As of January 1, local municipalities are no longer responsible for residential recycling. Circular Materials now administers Ontario’s new producer-funded, province-wide recycling program.
However, all did not go as planned for the new provincial provider.
Last week, Circular Materials apologized for missing blue box pick up in parts of Ontario, including southern Oshawa, where some material was left at the curb during post-holiday collections. The administrator promised to work with its contractors to clear all missed materials by the end of the week.
Blue Box recycling collection previously provided to small business customers, including those located in local Designated Business Areas were discontinued. Small businesses were directed to use private recycling collection services to continue managing Blue Box materials.
Regional collection services for garbage, green bin and leaf and yard waste are unaffected. Residences within these areas will continue to receive recycling collection.
With the new changes came complaints.
Councillor Brian Nicholson of Oshawa stated on social media that he was getting a lot of inquiries about “rough handling of blue box collecting resulting in a lot of damage to blue boxes”.
He added that there was “chaos and missed collections as province takes over Blue Box”.
One resident on the councillor’s comments stated that their blue box was “run over by the snow plow”.
File A Claim
The councillor directed residents to file a claim for the blue boxes that were damaged or destroyed by the collector to be replaced. He added: “Only by making claims will the operators improve the blue box collection service”.
The transition aligns with provincial changes under Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation 391/21, which shifts recycling responsibility from municipalities to the producers of the materials recycled in the Blue Box.
Extended list: New items you can now put in your blue box
Here’s a quick guide that explains what you can put in your blue box across the province, as of Jan. 1.
- Cardboard boxes
- pizza boxes
- direct mail boxes
- moving boxes
- shoe boxes
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cereal boxes
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tissue boxes
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egg cartons
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rolls from toilet paper and paper towels
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paper laminate packaging
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pet food bags, food service paper bags and plates
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spiral cans
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cookie dough packages
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ice-cream containers
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hot and cold beverage cups
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beverage cartons
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juice and milk cartons
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coffee creamers
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sugar cartons
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soup and sauce cartons
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any colour paper, including flour bags, prescription bags and paper produce bags
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notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed materials
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community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines
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greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes
Hard plastic containers
- laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouthwash bottles, plastic beverage bottles
- plastic packaging and containers
- food trays for salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids
- toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand-cream tubes
- hand sanitizer bottles, medication bottles, blister packs, plant pots (keep the lids on)
Flexible plastic packaging
- bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers
- overwrap (paper towel and toilet paper, beverage containers)
- coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags
Foam packaging
- meat trays
- takeout containers
- cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging for products
Metal containers
- food cans, metal lids, cookie, coffee and tea tins, beverage cans
- aluminum (foils and trays)
- aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays
- aerosol containers
- food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant
Glass containers
- clear and coloured glass
- food containers, jars and bottles, cosmetic containers, spice bottles, oil and vinegar bottles, non-alcoholic glass beverage containers