KAWARTHA LAKES-Changes to Ontario’s Blue Box program took effect on January 1, 2026, including updates to accepted materials and recycling collection services in Kawartha Lakes. This change is part of a province-wide shift under Ontario’s Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which makes producers responsible for the collection, processing and recycling of products and packaging.

A new recycling collector, Emterra Environmental, will be picking up recycling from homes across Kawartha Lakes on behalf of Circular Materials Ontario (CMO). Garbage collection will continue with Miller Waste, and both garbage and recycling will still be collected on the same day, just by different trucks.

New materials accepted in the Blue Box 

As of January 1, a number of items previously placed in regular waste have moved to recycling.

New to the Blue (Container) Bin
New to the Green (Paper/Fibre) Bin

Cereal bags
Flexible plastics (milk bags, bread bags)

Toothpaste tubs, deodorant, hand cream tubes
Chip bags, granola/candy wrappers and bubble wrap

Plastic cutlery

Coffee and fast food cups

Pet food bags

Straws

Styrofoam

Small item plastic packaging

Empty aerosol containers

 

Impacts for businesses and organizations 

Curbside recycling collection under the new program is limited to residential properties only. Recycling collection is no longer provided to: 

Private-sector businesses
Commercial portions of mixed-use buildings
Places of worship
Commercial farms
Municipal buildings and facilities
Non-profit organizations (e.g., shelters, food banks)
Daycares and post-secondary institutions

These properties can continue to recycle by using the City’s five landfill depot locations (tipping fees apply) or by arranging private recycling collection. For more information, visit the Commercial Waste Collection area of the website. 

“This is a significant shift happening across Ontario,” said Heather Dzurko, Manager of Waste Management for the City of Kawartha Lakes. “We’re committed to ensuring that residents and businesses in Kawartha Lakes have the information and support they need as recycling services transition to Circular Materials Ontario.”

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