Important changes to Blue Box Program begin Jan. 1

Dec. 11, 2023

Beginning Jan. 1 2024, Niagara Region’s residential recycling program will no longer be managed by the Region and responsibility for the program will be taken on by Circular Materials, a producer responsibility organization that is administering contracts for Blue Box (which includes Grey Box in Niagara) material across the province.

This change is in response to Provincial regulations calling for municipal recycling programs in Ontario to transition to the primary producers of food and beverage products and packaging that end up in the residential Blue Box program.

Starting in the new year, if residents have recycling program questions or require new or replacement Blue or Grey Boxes, they will need to contact the collection contractor for their area:

Miller Waste Systems – Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Welland: 1-833-621-0726 or area19@millerwaste.ca
GFL Environmental Inc. – Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet, West Lincoln: 1-855-769-3760 or niagararecycling@gflenv.com

For information about what is accepted in the Blue and Grey Box, residents can visit Circular Materials’ website. Niagara Region will also continue to promote program information on the Region’s Waste App.

Niagara residents should experience very little change to their recycling routines. There will be no change to collection days, frequency or collection time. Residents should continue to have materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day. Residents can also continue to use the same Blue and Grey Boxes and recycle the same materials (with the exception of books).

This transition does not affect other waste services. Niagara Region will continue to collect garbage, Green Bin, leaf and yard waste and large household items and distribute Green Bins and Kitchen Catchers. At this time, the Region will continue to provide recycling collection to industrial, commercial and institutional industrial properties and operate drop-off depots which will continue to accept Blue and Grey Box material. For these services, continue to contact Niagara Region’s Waste Info Line at 905-356-4141 or 1-800-594-5542, wasteinfoline@niagararegion.ca or Niagara Region’s website.

"We have been working with Circular Materials to ensure the transition of the Blue Box program transition as seamless as possible. Residents in Niagara can continue to expect their recycling and waste collection to remain consistent over the transition."

Catherine Habermebl, Director Waste Management Services

“I applaud the Provincial government’s move to an extended producer responsibility Blue Box program across Ontario. In the short term, service level consistency will be maintained for residents and in the long-term this transition provides opportunities to standardize recycling programs, improve diversion targets and accountability and encourage a circular economy while also helping to reduce the burden on municipal taxpayers.”

Jim Bradley, Regional Chair

Media contact

Janet Rose
Communications Consultant
Niagara Region
289-668-3629
janet.rose@niagararegion.ca