Small Business/Institution Recycling Collection 2026

In early 2019, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) announced a transition of the blue box program to full producer responsibility by 2026.

Since May 1, 2024, the City has partnered with Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), a producer-led not-for-profit organization, to see the City through the transition phase ending December 31, 2025.

Starting January 1, 2026, the City of Stratford will not be responsible for the residential blue box program, and the responsibility will entirely shift to producers in Ontario.

There is significant benefit to the municipality, as it will no longer be responsible for the cost of residential recycling collection. However, under the new regulations, producers and their representative, CMO, will not be required to provide the same service levels that are being provided today.

The biggest change will involve who receives service under the new regulations. Producers in Ontario will be servicing residents and other eligible sources such as elementary schools, public nursing homes, and multi-residential buildings as part of the new program.

However, non-eligible sources such as businesses, churches, private nursing homes, post-secondary institutions and municipal buildings will not be included in the new blue box program.

Due to the provincially led changes, the City will need to determine how recycling services are provided for these non-eligible sources, as they will not to be included in the new blue box program.

City staff are looking to gather feedback from businesses, churches, private nursing homes and post-secondary institutions about recycling services, and that feedback will be presented to Council for consideration.

If you belong to one of those groups, please give us your input by completing the two-minute survey below by February 7, 2025.