North Kawartha Blue Box Recycling Program Changes

The Township of North Kawartha is advising residents and local businesses of the upcoming changes to the Producer Responsibility Blue Box Recycling program that will permanently come into effect January 1, 2026, as the province-wide two-year transition to the Producer Responsibility Blue Box Recycling program, comes to an end.   

Under Ontario’s updated Blue Box Recycling program, blue box recycling collection is now the responsibility of the Producers which will administered by Circular Materials Ontario (CMO).  As a result, only residential sources will continue to be eligible for blue box recycling collection, either at the Curbside or in the Transfer Stations.

What Is Changing under the NEW Producer Responsibility Blue Box Recycling Program:

Beginning January 1, 2026:

• Residential Blue Box Recycling will continue for all residential households at both the Curbside and Transfer Stations.
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) properties, also referred to as non-eligible sources, will no longer be eligible to participate in the Producer Blue Box Recycling program, either at the Curbside or in the Transfer Stations.

This change applies across Ontario and is not specific to North Kawartha.

North Kawartha Solution for Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) Properties:

At the Council meeting on December 2, 2025, Township of North Kawartha Council approved a local solution to support all North Kawartha Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) properties. 

As per the direction of Council, Staff will coordinate the placement of roll-off bins at both the Haultain and Anstruther Transfer Station, that are solely for non-eligible source IC&I Blue Box Recycling Collection.  IC&I blue box recycling collection must be kept separate from eligible residential sources, but it will still be recycled and processed within the same blue box recycling markets.  Furthermore, the Township will continue to track and record IC&I weights for diversion percentages and credits.  

This decision ensures that local businesses, institutions, and other non-eligible sources will continue to have access to blue box recycling services within the Township, unlike many other communities through-out the Province.

It is important that all Non-Eligible Source (IC&I) Blue Box Recycling customers, follow the direction of Transfer Station Staff, as their blue box recycling will be collected in separate roll-off containers at each Transfer Station, and not the traditional recycling bins used at each Transfer Station.

What This Means for the Community

• Residents: There will be no change to residential Blue Box recycling service, either at the Curbside or in the Transfer Stations.
• Businesses and Institutions: IC&I properties may take their blue box recycling to either Transfer Station free of charge, where it will be collected in separate roll-off containers.  Or, IC&I customers may plan for alternative recycling arrangements, such as private recycling collection services.

The Township will continue to work with Circular Materials Ontario and our MPP, as the Blue Box Recycling Program Develops.