Garbage tags

Ontario municipalities will transition to a producer-led Blue Box program under the province’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model. This means producers of recyclable materials will fully fund and operate the program.

The Blue Box Regulation, enacted under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, shifts the cost-sharing model—previously divided between municipal taxpayers and producers—to a system where producers are fully responsible for funding, operating, and meeting performance targets for the recycling program. Producers will be accountable for collecting and recycling Blue Box materials, reporting to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA), and achieving progressively higher recycling targets. This approach incentivizes waste reduction and improved recycling efforts, leading to decreased natural resource extraction, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Until December 31, 2025:

• No changes to collection schedules or accepted materials.

Starting January 1, 2026:

• Blue Box collection will be managed by Circular Materials, a non-profit organization representing producers.
• Collection days and accepted materials may change.
• The Town will no longer provide Blue Box collection services.

Circular Materials may update collection days and the types of materials accepted in the program. Residents should visit Circular Materials for further details.

• IC&I waste is regulated separately from residential waste in Ontario and is not eligible for collection under the new program.
• As of January 1, 2026, the Town will no longer provide waste collection for IC&I properties.
• Property owners must arrange for private waste collection.

Starting January 1, 2026, the Town will no longer be providing curbside waste collection to businesses located within the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. This change is part of the Province of Ontario’s updates to the Blue Box Regulation.

Effective January 1, 2026, waste collection will not be provided for the following property types:

• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) properties
• Daycares
• Places of worship
• Not-for-profit and charitable organizations, including shelters
• Public and private post-secondary institutions

For properties that contain both residential and commercial units, only the residential units will be eligible for collection services.

For more information, please call 905-640-1900 ext. 4247

Residential properties will still receive collection services for:

• Garbage
• Green bins
• Yard waste
• Christmas trees
• Large appliances and bulky items

For more information on Ontario’s Blue Box transition program, visit Ontario’s Blue Box transition program.

Producers are companies that supply materials for the Blue Box program, including:

• Packaging
• Paper products
• Packaging-like items made from paper, glass, metal, or plastic

These companies design, manufacture, and market products and packaging and are responsible for managing and funding the entire lifecycle of their materials.

For more details, visit Circular Materials’ webpage on promoting the circular economy.