Blue Box Program Changes in 2026

The Province of Ontario is transitioning the blue box program to a new model that makes producers of recyclable materials responsible for their collection and processing instead of municipalities.

Starting January 1, 2026, residential recycling in Richmond Hill will be managed by Circular Materials (CM), a non-profit organization that represents producers. CM has contracted Miller Waste to collect your blue box recycling and manage customer service inquiries. You will continue to receive uninterrupted recycling collection service on your regular collection day.

What's changing

Starting January 1, 2026:

New customer service contact: All blue box related inquiries, including missed collections and requests for new blue boxes must be made directly to Miller Waste, instead of to the City. Contact details will be posted here once they are available.
Separate trucks for recycling/organics: Blue boxes and green bins will be collected by separate trucks instead of being co-collected on the same truck. Your collection day stays the same, but collection times will vary.
You can recycle more materials: New items include hot and cold takeout cups and lids, plastic bags, foam packaging, black plastic containers, deodorant sticks and toothpaste tubes. Learn more at: circularmaterials.ca/recycleontario

What is NOT changing

Collection schedule: There will be no changes to the collection schedule, but collection times will vary.
Blue box: You can continue to put your recycling out in the same blue box you are using now.
Garbage, organics and yard waste collection: The City will continue to collect garbage (including furniture and larger items), green bins and yard waste, as well as large appliances (by appointment) following the current collection schedule.

City staff are working with Circular Materials to help ensure a smooth transition and keep our community informed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any changes to the blue box program in 2025?

There will be no changes in 2025. The City will continue to be responsible for the blue box program from now until December 31, 2025.

Will this affect garbage, green bin and/or yard waste collection?

No. The City will continue to be responsible for garbage, green bin and yard waste collection.

Who is Circular Materials?

Circular Materials is a non-profit organization that will administer the recycling collection system in Ontario on behalf of producers. Circular Materials will set up and manage contracts with waste service providers to collect and process recyclable materials. Visit CircularMaterials.ca for more information.

Who are producers?

Producers are companies that supply blue box materials, such as product packaging, paper products, or packaging-like products made of paper, glass, metal or plastic into the Ontario market. Producers are responsible for covering the costs of collecting and recycling these materials.

Why are these changes happening?

Historically, Ontario’s blue box programs were managed by municipalities, with costs shared between municipalities and the producers of blue box materials. A new Provincial Blue Box Regulation is transitioning Ontario to an “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR) model, placing full financial and operational responsibility for the blue box program on producers of recyclable materials. The intent is to give producers an incentive to reduce waste and improve recycling across the province.

In addition, the blue box program is getting two new enhancements:

The list of acceptable materials will be the same across the province.
Producers will provide recycling collection services to schools (public and private elementary and secondary schools), non-profit retirement homes, non-profit long-term care homes, and multi-residential buildings including apartments and condominiums.

Will I still be able to purchase or exchange a City-issued blue box in 2026?

No. Starting January 1, 2026, the City of Richmond Hill will no longer sell or exchange blue boxes. Information on how to obtain a new blue box after January 1, will be posted here once available.

Will my property taxes go down because of the City no longer managing the blue box program?

Cost savings from the blue box transition are minimal due to the loss of producer funding for this program and the increased cost to collect organics with a separate truck. The remaining minimal savings will be used to offset other transition costs as well as rising operational costs due to inflation.

How does this affect multi-residential properties?

Properties receiving municipal waste collection

Starting January 1, 2026, multi-residential properties currently receiving recycling collection from the City will transition to Circular Materials’ waste collection contractor (Miller Waste) for this service. The City will continue to collect garbage and organic waste from these buildings.

New properties or properties that do not receive municipal waste collection

The Province has deferred the start of expanded recycling collection for new multi-residential buildings that did not previously receive municipal service until 2031. New multi-residential buildings can still apply to the City for free garbage and organic waste collection services by contacting Access Richmond Hill at access@richmondhill.ca.

Does this affect industrial, commercial, and institutional properties?

Industrial, commercial, and institutional (IC&I) waste is regulated separately from residential waste in Ontario, and is not eligible for collection by Circular Materials as per the Province of Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation. The City does not provide waste collection to IC&I properties; private collection must be arranged.

How does this affect businesses in the downtown core BIA?

The City will continue to provide recycling collection services to businesses currently receiving municipal collection in the downtown core Business Improvement Area (BIA). However, these provincial changes will increase the cost for the City to provide waste collection service.

Starting in 2026, the City will be introducing an annual waste management fee for each business property in the downtown core that is currently receiving municipal waste collection service. The 2026 fee is $365 per property.

To continue receiving weekly municipal waste collection of garbage, organics and recycling, the annual fee must be paid to the City starting in 2026.

Affected businesses will receive letters outlining the changes in the spring and fall of 2025.

For more information: