A new, province-wide blue box recycling program is beginning next month. Here’s what you need to know <\/p>\n
Saultites will be able to toss\u00a0more materials into their recycling bins as part of upcoming changes to the province\u2019s recycling program.<\/p>\n
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Ontario residents will be able to recycle all of the same materials right across the board \u2014 including a few new ones.<\/p>\n
The new materials will include:<\/p>\n
\n\tHot and cold beverage cups (coffee cups)
\n\tDeodorant and toothpaste tubes
\n\tIce cream tubs
\n\tBlack plastic containers
\n\tFrozen juice containers
<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new unified material list in Ontario will make it easier for residents to recycle, improving recovery rates and benefitting both people and the environment,\u201d said Circular Materials spokesperson Jennifer Kerr.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe unified material list and new materials included are a great example of how extended producer responsibility advances innovation and improves environmental outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerr said the recycling collection schedule in the Sault will stay exactly the same, and residents will not experience any changes to their existing collection service.<\/p>\n
Circular Materials will oversee the province-wide recycling program, while GFL Environmental will be contracted by the company as the recycling collection service provider locally.<\/p>\n
The province\u2019s new blue box recycling program will be funded by companies that produce packaging and paper products\u00a0in Ontario under an extended producer responsibility model.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means municipalities and taxpayers are no longer paying for recycling services as this cost is paid for by producers,\u201d Kerr said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy shifting financial responsibility to producers, EPR enables municipalities to redirect their budgets to other local initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n