• In January, Stouffville will join all Ontario municipalities in the transition to producer-managed recycling under Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation.
  • Residents may request a one-time exchange between 95- and 65-gallon recycling carts.
  • Blue bin collection will move to a bi-weekly schedule beginning the week of Jan. 5, 2026.
  • Recycling collection days will remain unchanged; however, there will be no recycling pickup during the week of December 29, 2025.
  • A one-time overflow recycling pickup will be permitted on the first January collection day.
  • Old blue boxes can be repurposed by residents or set out for special curbside collection in early February.
  • Assisted recycling service remains available for eligible residents with accessibility needs.

 

Circular Materials’ assumption of Ontario’s municipal recycling streams is less than two weeks away, and updated details are now available for Stouffville residents as the town transitions to the new provincial Blue Box Regulation.

The Producer Responsibility Organization has formally opened its recycling cart change request form, allowing households to exchange the current 95-gallon cart for a smaller 65-gallon option. Circular Materials has advised that only one exchange will be permitted per address, meaning residents will not be able to reverse their decision once a smaller cart is selected.

Residents are being encouraged to carefully assess their recycling needs before making a choice. Under the new system, blue box collection will move to a bi-weekly schedule, and all materials must fit inside the cart to be collected. While households using the larger 95-gallon cart can request an additional cart of the same size, those opting for the 65-gallon version will be limited to a single bin.

Although collection frequency will change, pickup days will remain the same. The Town has released its 2026 Waste Collection Calendar, with paper copies mailed directly to residents.

As part of the transition, there will be no recycling collection during the final week of December, and the last pickup using the smaller blue boxes will occur during the week of Dec. 22. Collection using the new recycling carts will begin the week of Jan. 5, 2026, marking the official start of the bi-weekly program.

To help households adjust, GFL will allow a one-time overflow pickup during residents’ first scheduled recycling day in January. Any excess recyclable materials placed beside the cart, such as bundled cardboard, will be collected only on that initial pickup day.

Residents are also being advised to consider reusing their old blue boxes for storage or other household purposes. For those who cannot find a use for them, a dedicated curbside collection will be offered during the week of Feb. 2, 2026. Empty blue bins must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on normal collection days, and a separate vehicle will collect them.

While some concerns remain over near-term recycling outcomes, The Ontario-wide transition to an Extended Producer Responsibility model will shift the cost and management of recycling away from municipalities. Beginning next year, producers of blue box materials will be responsible for funding and operating the system.

Circular Materials estimates that municipalities across Ontario could collectively save or redirect more than $200 million each year as a result of the change. Residents are also being asked to review the updated list of acceptable materials, which now includes items such as black plastic containers, coffee cups, ice cream tubs, and toothpaste and deodorant tubes.

While community concerns persist about the practicality of larger carts for seniors, residents with physical disabilities, and larger rural properties with long driveways, assisted collection is available for those who are temporarily or permanently unable to place their recycling at the curb. The service requires an application and a physician’s note, with forms accessible through Circular Materials’ website.

Inquiries related to the recycling program can be directed to Circular Materials by phone at (877) 667-2626 or by email. However, as of Jan. 1, residents are asked to contact GFL directly regarding missed collections, recycling carts, and questions about accepted materials. They can be reached by phone at (833) 779-4351 or by email.

 

Cover image taken by Alex Fu