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Premier Doug Ford says he will make changes to residential recycling collection if needed after the province’s newly privatized system had a rough start in Toronto, with some full blue bins sitting uncollected as of Monday.
“The company that’s doing it, make no mistake, if it doesn’t work, we’ll change it,” Ford told reporters.
“If it’s not working, plain and simple, let’s make the changes — continuous improvement. But we’re going to do well, folks, I’m feeling positive.”
Ford was questioned about the new system after the first pickups, scheduled on two “special post-holiday collection dates,” were missed last week in several Toronto neighbourhoods.
Blue bin collection was taken away from Toronto as part of a provincial regulation designed to shift responsibility for recycling from the city to producers of blue box materials. The change, which means city workers are no longer picking up blue bins, took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Circular Materials, a private company, has taken over collection of recyclables for single-family homes, most multi-residential buildings, schools, long-term care facilities and retirement homes. Changes to recycling collection do not apply to commercial buildings, city facilities, divisions or agencies, charities, institutions or religious organizations.
Coun. Josh Matlow, who represents Toronto-St. Paul’s, says he thinks privatization of residential recycling collection in the city was a mistake. (Angelina King/CBC)
Areas with uncollected blue bins included those west of Yonge Street, from the Humber River east to Yonge Street, extending from Steeles Avenue south to Lake Ontario. Homes east of Yonge Street, from Yonge Street east to Victoria Park, also extending from Steeles Avenue south to Lake Ontario, were also affected.
Coun. Josh Matlow, who represents Toronto-St. Paul’s, said Monday that he heard from several residents, including in the neighbourhoods of Humewood and Leaside, that recycling materials were not picked up last week.
Matlow said he thinks privatization of residential recycling was a mistake. He said there has been a lack of accountability and transparency.
“It’s not off to a good start,” Matlow said.
“Recycling pickup is a basic service that people expect to be done and done well. And I believe that it should continue to be done by the city, because when it’s done by some company that nobody has ever heard of, nobody knows who to hold to account and who to ask for improvements from,” he added.
Collection for affected households underway: CEO
Matlow said he has reached out to the company and the province to express concern and to demand better service.
A blue bin that has been emptied is seen here in Toronto. (Lokchi Lam /CBC)
Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials, said in a statement on Monday that the company contacted its service provider, GFL Environmental, which has confirmed that recycling collection did not take place for a “subset of households” in two districts in Toronto on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, but that collection would take place starting Monday and continuing this week.
“This special collection was scheduled outside the regular recycling pickup cycle to support increased recycling volumes following the holiday season,” Langdon said.
Langdon said the residents involved would have received a postcard about the special collection dates.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and thank residents for their patience and engagement.”
Don’t call city with blue bin problems, councillor says
Coun. Mike Colle, who represents Eglinton-Lawrence, said he expected the private recycling collection to be a bit unpredictable at first because a new company has taken over the job from the city.
“I’m sure they’re going to have some real rough spots and we have to be patient. On the other hand, we have to remind people, sometimes we should just leave well enough alone. The recycling program here in Toronto was working. We hardly ever got any complaints for years,” Colle said.
Colle, however, said he has a reminder for residents.
“I tell people, if you’ve got a problem with it: ‘Don’t call us. Call Doug. Call your MPP, call your premier and call the private contractor that now controls it.’ “
At least one resident just wants to see the problem sorted.
Mario Godlewski, whose blue bin was not emptied as scheduled, said what is happening is the privatization of what should be a public service.
“It’s put off to someone else to do it. And then they can all finger point and point at other people and it’s contracted and subcontracted. And it’s a mess,” he said.