Blue Box Transition Program

Blue recycling bin with plastic bottles sticking out of the top

In 2016, through the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, the Government of Ontario introduced its plan to roll out a new province-wide system for Blue Box materials. Through this new Act, all Ontario municipalities are required to transition ‘out of the business’ of collecting recyclable materials by 2026, and hand over responsibility for managing Blue Box programs to producers of products and packaging.

As of January 1, 2025, the residential Blue Box program in the County of Brant will be managed and operated by Circular Materials, with Emterra Environmental contracted to handle Blue Box collection. For more information, visit the Circular Materials - Brant website.

Commercial, Industrial and some institutional properties are not eligible to participate in the Blue Box Program. More details are below in the Information for Businesses (Institutional, Commercially and Industrial (IC) Zoned Properties) tab.

Timeline

transitioning the blue box program timeline

2002:

The current Blue Box Program is introduced in Ontario. Industry Stewards are required to fund 50% of the operating costs for the Municipal collection of Blue Box materials.

2016:

The Government of Ontario introduces a new Blue Box Act. Producers are responsible for the collection of their products and packaging.

July 2023:

The Blue Box Program will transition to the new producer-run framework starting July 1, 2023 for some municipalities.

January 2025:

The County of Brant is set to transition to the new Blue Box Program on January 1, 2025.

January 2026:

All municipalities will have transitioned to the new Blue Box Program as of January 1, 2026.

Background Information

The County of Brant is required to transition to the new Provincial Blue Box regulatory framework on January 1, 2025 to comply with O.Reg. 391/21 (website). This new regulation is being implemented throughout Ontario in two phases:

Transition period (July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025); and
Post-transition period (starting January 1, 2026).

In June 2021, the Provincial Blue Box regulation was updated to make the producers of recycling materials responsible for their materials, specifically related to recycling costs, to reduce recyclable materials currently going to landfill and enable a common collection Blue Box program across Ontario. Common collection in this case is defined as the same recycling materials being accepted in all Blue Box programs across the Province.

Want to learn more about the Blue Box Transition Program?

Stewardship Ontario

Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority

Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy

FAQs

What's happening to Ontario's Blue Box Program?

In 2021, the Ontario government passed a new regulation that shifts the financial and operational responsibility of Blue Box recycling programs to producers – those that produce and supply Blue Box materials to residents. In this new extended producer responsibility framework, producers will become fully responsible for collecting and recycling Blue Box materials.

Transition to extended producer Blue Box Program responsibility will take place between 2023 – 2025 across Ontario, with the new framework fully in place by January 1, 2026. As a result, County of Brant residents will receive their Blue Box Program by Circular Materials Ontario as of January 1, 2025. Circular Materials Ontario is the administrator on behalf of the producers for the province wide Blue Box Program and is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario.

What is Circular Materials Ontario and what role do they play?

Circular Materials is the administrator of the common collection system and a not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. The County of Brant is collaborating with Circular Materials to deliver recycling services and support our residents.

During the transition period, there will be no change to how and what residents can recycle. Following the transition, Ontario can expect to have a convenient, consistent, and effective recycling system in place that will improve recycling rates and meet the needs of Ontarians.

Learn more about Circular Materials Ontario.

What can I expect when Circular Materials manages the Blue Box Program?

If you are a residential household/property there will be no change to how you currently recycle your materials but at this time the County has not been informed by Circular Materials Ontario if there will be any changes to the recycling collection schedule in 2025. The County will post updated information when it is provided by Circular Materials Ontario.

If you are an Industrial, Commercial or Institutional property, please see the Information for Business tab.

When will Circular Materials be managing the Blue Box Program?

Circular Materials begins managing the County of Brant's Blue Box Program as of January 1, 2025.

Why is the program changing?

Historically, Ontario’s Blue Box programs were operated by municipalities who were responsible for paying about half of the costs of the program, with producers responsible for the other half. Now, under the Blue Box Regulation, Ontario is transitioning to an Extended Producer Responsibility model where producers – the organizations that produce the products and packaging that end up in the Blue Box – are 100% responsible for operating and funding the program.

What does extended producer responsibility mean?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a framework in which producers – the organizations that produce the materials and packaging that end up in the Blue Box – are responsible for managing the end-of-life management of these materials. EPR enables innovation, operational efficiencies, increased standard levels, and access to materials. It is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms to improve recycling rates.

What advantages are associated with this new system?

Extended Producer Responsibility is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms to improve recycling rates and advance a circular economy where materials are collected, recycled, and returned to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packaging.

Information for Businesses (Institutional, Commercially and Industrial (ICI) Zoned Properties)

In 2021, the Ontario government passed a new regulation that shifts the financial and operational responsibility of Blue Box recycling programs to producers – the organizations that produce the materials and packaging that end up in the Blue Box.

As of January 1, 2025, the residential County of Brant’s Blue Box recycling program will be provided by Circular Materials Ontario (website), who is the administrator on behalf of the producers for the provincial common collection system and is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario.

As part of the regulation, commercial, industrial and institutional properties (except for public schools and retirement/long term care homes) are not eligible and are not included in Blue Box services through producer responsibility. This means that properties that are deemed non-eligible must make alternate arrangements for the collection of their recycling. Please note that garbage collection will not change for these locations.

In order to help with this transition, non-eligible properties can bring their recycling to the Paris Transfer Station or Biggars Lane Landfill (webpage) free of charge.

Contact Information

Contact Emterra at 1-888-597-1541 or customercareont@emterra.ca with any concerns regarding recycling.

For more information on the Blue Box Transition in the County of Brant: Email Operations Department

Blue Box Transition Program

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