The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to make residents and business owners aware of changes that are coming to blue box collection as of January 1, 2026.
Updates for Residents
Starting in January residents will be able to use their blue boxes for even more. Expanded collection is coming and will include:
- Paper laminate packaging
- Tubes (toothpaste, deodorant, creams)
- Flexible plastic (bags, bubble wrap, liners)
- Polystyrene foam (food trays, packaging)
- Small item packaging (medication bottles, blister packs, plant pots)
More information can be found on the Circular Materials website. If residents have any questions or collection issues related to blue box they must contact Miller Waste at [email protected] or (519) 372-1855.
Updates for Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Properties
As of October 2023, residential recycling collection in the Town of The Blue Mountains has been managed by Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization appointed by the producers of blue box materials under Ontario’s legislated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. Under the Provincial legislation, recycling collection is not included for industrial, commercial and institutional (business) properties. This includes:
- Small businesses
- Churches and places of worship
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Shops
- Factories
The Town has a separate contract in place for the continued collection of blue box materials from business properties. This program is not financially supported by the EPR, however the Town has approved it to continue into 2026.
What Businesses Need to Know
- Business blue box collection will continue in 2026
- Collection will be on the same day as it has previously occurred (carts on Fridays, curbside on your day of the week)
- Business blue box collection is a limited weekly service
- Three 360 litre carts, or
- Limited to 9 units (i.e. clear bags, recycle boxes, or cardboard bundles) – bundles limited to 61cm x 46cm x 15cm (24″ x 18″ x 6″) and 20 kg (45 lbs) per bag, box or bundle
- Curbside garbage and organics collection will continue on the same schedule – these services also have weekly set-out limits
- Business locations may continue to use the Landfill and Recycling Depot to drop off blue box materials free of charge (other items have a minimum site use fee of $15)
Business locations that have questions or collection issues can contact the Town through the online service request form or (519) 599-3131 ext. 276.
Advocacy and Provincial Response
The Town, along with many other municipalities, strongly lobbied the provincial government to allow continued financial support of recycling collection for small business locations. However, municipalities were notified on October 1, 2025, by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, that Circular Materials would not be able to fulfill this request.
As a result, many municipalities are not collecting business location recycling. The Blue Mountains has chosen to continue providing blue box service to business locations. The Town will be investigating and considering options for business location blue box service in 2026. New service models could include a fee for service or a depot-based service.
