Ontario’s New Blue Box Regulation

Starting July 1, 2023, eligible communities in Ontario will begin transitioning their Blue Box programs to the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework under the Blue Box Regulation. During the transition, Stewardship Ontario will continue to administer the program on behalf of stewards, and residents will not see any disruption in the Blue Box services provided by their municipalities.

Why is this change happening?

The Government of Ontario has finalized the Blue Box Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, requiring producers to operate and pay for the collection and reuse, refurbishment and recycling of Blue Box materials. This means that the funding, which was shared between producers and municipalities, will now be fully funded by the producers only.

This new framework will enhance the Blue Box program by standardizing what can be recycled across the province and expanding services to more communities. These changes to the Blue Box program will make it easier for Ontarians to recycle and help further enhance Ontario’s circular economy.

What does this mean to you as a resident?

As a resident, you will not see any changes. The collection remains the same, but the program is now privately funded. This means that the municipality will no longer pay for the service, allowing us to use these funds for our upcoming organic collection program, which will allow us to reduce the amount going to landfills even more.

For more information on the Blue Box Program, visit the Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority’s website or contact our Infrastructure Department.