Media Release - Blue Box Transition to be Effective January 1, 2026

February 10, 2025

(GREATER NAPANEE, ON) – The Ontario Government is changing how blue box materials are collected and processed as of January 1, 2026.

On January 1, 2026, producers of products and packaging will now be fully responsible for the cost of the collection and processing of blue box materials. Blue box materials refer to any type of recyclable material such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum cans, etc.

These changes will affect several blue box services currently offered by the Town including residential curbside blue box collection, non-eligible sources (industrial & commercial properties, non-profit organizations, municipal buildings, commercial farms, day cares, places of worship, and campgrounds & trailer parks), and blue box material collection at the Town’s Waste Disposal Sites.

Curbside Collection Users

• The Town will no longer be responsible for the collection of recyclable material.
•  Blue box materials will be collected by a contractor through a contract with Circular Materials Ontario; however, the Town will continue to be responsible for the collection of garbage.

Non-eligible Sources

• Non-eligible sources will no longer receive curbside collection of blue box materials; however, the Town will continue to be responsible for the collection of garbage within the limits set out in the Town’s Waste By-law.
• Non-eligible sources are encouraged to keep recycling. A list of private service providers will be provided.
• Residents that live in mixed commercial and residential buildings will still receive curbside collection. The commercial section of the building will not receive curbside collection.

Waste Disposal Site Users

• The Town will no longer be accepting blue box materials at Waste Disposal Sites as of January 1, 2026.
• The decision not to collect blue box materials at Waste Disposal Sites was not made by Town Council or Staff but is the result of the Blue Box Transition.
•  All residents receive curbside collection for blue box materials. If you currently rely on Waste Disposal Sites, please call 343-302-7637 to ensure you are on the curbside collection list.

Mayor Terry Richardson explains the reasoning for the Blue Box Transition. Mayor Richardson states, “The Town of Greater Napanee, along with all other municipalities in the Province of Ontario will be transitioning in how recyclable materials are collected and processed moving forward. The Blue Box Transition program is a Provincially mandated program under the authority of the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which makes producers of recyclable items responsible for collecting and processing of those items. This new program is focused specifically on recyclables and does not affect the regular collection and disposal of household waste. The collection of household waste within the Greater Napanee area will continue to be conducted through the same method that it is currently operating. We would ask that the public be patient during this transitional period to allow this new process to mature".    

Andrew Girouard, Deputy Director of Environmental Services for the Town explains how residents will be informed about the transition. Girouard states, “Members of the public that may be impacted by the Blue Box Transition can expect to receive updates throughout the year via Facebook, the Town’s website, radio, newspaper, direct mail, and in-person communication”. 

For more information about the Blue Box Transition, please visit the Town’s website.

Media Contact:

Kylie Huffman

Community Engagement & Communications Coordinator

Town of Greater Napanee

T: 613-776-1116

E: khuffman@greaternapanee.com

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