Published Online: April 29, 2026

Written by: Jocelyn Martin

"While you’re spring cleaning, it’s time to gather up any material items you no longer need or can’t be donated.

The City of Barrie is helping you help keep clothing and textiles out of the landfill with its Textile Curbside Collection Program.

It’s partnered with Recycling Rewards, a Canadian company based in Ontario that does textile and household item recycling.

The textile collections will take place next week starting Mon., May 4 and running until Fri., May 8. ..." Read the full article here.

Published Online: April 11, 2026

Written by: Shelby Knox

"Anyone in Waterloo Region who wants to get rid of their old green bin can do so at a series of community drop-off events.

The first event was held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday at Waterloo City Hall’s parking lot.

Hundreds of green bins could be seen at the drop off on Saturday at Waterloo City Hall. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: April 13, 2026

Written by: Robyn Best

"Starting on April 20, Miller Waste collectors will be enforcing the bylaw that no recyclable materials can be in garbage bags.

On this date, Miller Waste will be leaving “oops” tags on any garbage bags that contain recyclables. For the time being, if recyclables are properly sorted and the bag is set out again the following week, Miller Waste will collect the bag as part of a grace period. However, residents are reminded this grace period will eventually end. ..."

Read the full article here

Published Online: March 24, 2026

Written by: Walker Industries

"Walker Industries Holdings Ltd. (Walker), and Miller Waste Systems (Miller Waste) are pleased to announce the successful sale of Miller Waste Systems’ Escarpment Renewables and Maryland Farms organic waste-to-energy facilities and pre-processing assets to Walker.

This marks a significant milestone for both Walker and Miller Waste following a decades-long relationship and builds on the strong legacies of both as industry leaders in sustainable waste management solutions. Ontario is a leader in finding ways to create energy from household and municipal waste which helps power homes and bring a renewable energy source to communities. ..." Read the full article here.

Published Online: January 15, 2026

Written by: Rachel Kagan

"From the evolution of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, to plastics policy in flux, the pending CUSMA review, PFAS, and environmental claims, these are some of the environmental issues the Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC) will be watching in the year ahead.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – a policy approach where producers are financially and operationally responsible for managing the recycling of their packaging – continues to evolve across Canada, while new EPR laws are being introduced across the United States. Together, these developments are increasing costs and complexity across the packaging value chain.

In Canada, the most recent shift is in Ontario, where the Blue Box program transitioned from a municipally operated system with partial producer funding to a full producer responsibility model. As of January 1, 2026, obligated producers are 100% financially and operationally responsible for residential packaging and paper recycling. ..."

Read the full Blog post here.

Recycling is undergoing big changes across Ontario as the blue box program moves fully into the hands of the companies that produce packaging and products, shifting the costs away from municipal taxpayers. As Jesse Reynolds reports, while local curbside collection already transitioned earlier this year, new changes coming in the new year will affect area residents.

Watch Global News video coverage here.

City of Kingston Recycling Center link here.

Published Online: Dec 17, 2025

Written by: Alicia Anderson

"THUNDER BAY – The city's quality of life committee has endorsed a $400,000 plan to save at least two recycling depots in the city from closing next year.

Under the plan, there will be no immediate changes for residents at the start of the new year, said the city's manager of solid waste and recycling services, Jason Sherband.

On Jan. 1, Circular Materials, which administers residential recycling in the city, said it will only operate a single depot the required minimum. There are currently three in the city.With the committee's endorsement, Sherband said he feels good about staving off the closures. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: December 18, 2025

Written by: Waste Advantage Magazine

"On January 1, 2026, Ontario’s three-year transition to extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products will be complete and households across the province will have a convenient and enhanced system that recycles more materials, more easily. Ontario’s new blue box recycling program is 100% funded by producers – the companies that supply packaging and paper products to consumers in Ontario, including the familiar brands and retailers Ontarians interact with every day. This means municipalities and taxpayers will no longer pay for recycling services as this cost will now be paid by producers.

Circular Materials, the Common Collection System administrator and not-for-profit organization responsible for managing Ontario’s new residential recycling system, is pleased to mark this significant milestone alongside producers, all levels of government, partners and stakeholders across the recycling sector. Circular Materials, Ryse Solutions, Landbell Canada and EnvironFocus Incorporated are the producer responsibility organizations that are operating Ontario’s new common collection system. ..." 

Read the full article here.

Published Online: December 3, 2025

Written by: Stephanie Bontorin

"Call2Recycle is expanding its Recycle Your Vapes program in Quebec to include cannabis vape devices. This initiative is supported by the Government of Quebec and RECYC-QUÉBEC, aiming to address an urgent environmental issue. Quebec becomes the first Canadian province to implement a comprehensive recycling program for cannabis vape devices.

Building on the initial program launched January 1, 2025, this expansion responds to the rapid growth of battery-powered products and evolving cannabis consumption methods, ensuring proper end-of-life recycling. In collaboration with producers, retailers, government entities, municipal partners, and stakeholders, Call2Recycle is deploying a safe and responsible solution that prevents batteries and device components from ending up in landfills, promoting a circular economy. This proven model can be implemented nationwide, wherever Canadians live and shop. ..." 

Read the full article here.

Published Online: Winter 2025

Written by: Carton Council of Canada

"Each year, CCC Managing Director Isabelle Faucher visits a number of material recovery facilities (MRFs), those indispensable actors in the recycling value chain. These visits are arranged in conjunction with trips she takes across the country for meetings and conferences, and even her own vacation time. In this way, over the past five years, Isabelle has travelled on some fifty occasions to facilities implementing exemplary practices in carton processing, and some others that were dealing with certain challenges.

These visits highlight the fact that every facility is unique, and the best way for it to process cartons is the one that best corresponds to its reality.

In 2025, our Managing Director’s travels saw her mainly on the road in Québec. We are pleased to spotlight the following five Québec MRFs that sort cartons separately into dedicated bales, each in their own way, rather than baling them with other fibre materials. Positive sorting is the way to go to maximize recovery of the long virgin fibres in cartons or ensure they can be fully recycled into building materials, and to expand the range of end markets. Québec has 21 MRFs that process materials from residential collection programs. According to our information, there are now 16 of them sorting cartons separately. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: December 3, 2025

Written by: Glenn Hendry

"Blue box pickup for small businesses in Durham will end December 31 as the region transitions to a full producer responsibility model.

Residents will see no changes to their schedules (changes may be coming after next year) but small businesses will now have to arrange for private pickup of their recyclable materials.

Households in Durham saw their blue box collection awarded to Circular Materials on January 1, 2024 and the two-box system for papers and containers will continue to be used. Residents will also be able to recycle more materials, such as hot and cold beverage cups, deodorant and toothpaste tubes and ice cream tubs.

Businesses, however, will see their curbside blue box collection end on December 31, forcing business owners to find a private recycling collection service to manage their blue box materials. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: November 15, 2025

Written by: Kim Phillips

"Communities across York Region have been voicing confusion and frustration as new carts arrive ahead of a major provincial change to how recycling is managed.

The rollout is part of Ontario’s shift to “extended producer responsibility,” which hands control of blue box programs to manufacturers and producers instead of municipalities. Circular Materials, the organization overseeing the transition, will take over collection on Jan. 1, 2026.

But regional mayors say residents are being left with more questions than answers.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said municipalities have no decision-making power over the new blue bins, including their size. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: October 27, 2025

Written by: Waste Advantage Magazine

Ottawa’s garbage limits are reducing the amount of waste going to the city’s landfills but some councillors are concerned about rising reports of illegal dumping. A report presented at the Environment and Climate Change Committee, which updates the city’s Solid Waste Master Plan, showed a notable reduction in garbage sent to landfill, thanks in part to the three-item trash collection limit.

“This report shows real progress towards our solid waste goals,” said committee chair and Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard. “The 15,000-ton reduction in landfill waste in eight months, the reduction per capita waste going to landfill, 68 percent of eligible multi-residential buildings now in the green bin program and continuing. These are real testaments of our work of staff.”

Read the article here.

Published Online: September 21, 2025

Written by: Alyshah Hasham

"Every week, green bins set out for collection around Toronto are filled not just with potato peels and mouldy leftovers, but also dirty diapers.

The inclusion of diapers (and other sanitary products like menstrual pads, as well as pet waste) in the city’s organic waste disposal system has been going on for two decades, since the start of the city-wide green bin program, but it remains unusual not just in Canada but North America. Most other cities send diapers straight to the landfill. ..."

Read the online article here (paywalled)

Read a PDF of the article here

Published Online: July 23, 2025

Written by: Waste Advantage Magazine

"Circular Materials and Call2Recycle Canada announces a strategic collaboration designed to share best practices and enhance public awareness for the recycling of materials specific to each organization’s mandate. As two national leaders in extended producer responsibility (EPR), this partnership brings together deep expertise in packaging, paper and battery recycling. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: July 24, 2025

Written by: Rachel Kagan (Paper & Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council)

"The Ontario government recently proposed amendments to the province’s Blue Box Regulation, triggering swift reactions from stakeholders. As the environmental voice of Canada’s paper packaging industry, the Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC) believes it’s important to move beyond reactionary narratives and look at the facts. Instead of pointing fingers or pitting stakeholders against one another, PPEC’s latest blog aims to provide context to help inform a more productive conversation.

What’s Being Proposed?
The Ontario government proposed amendments to the Blue Box Regulation and the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act. At a high level, some of the objectives of the changes are to improve data collection, delay recovery targets, and focus the collection of Blue Box materials from residential sources by removing planned expansions to long-term care and retirement homes, schools, and public spaces. ..."

Read the full blog post here.

Published Online: July 14, 2025

Written by: Environmental Journal

"Englobe Corporation, a leading Canadian engineering and environmental services firm based in Montreal, Que., announced today it has completed its transaction of a previously announced acquisition of Cambium Inc., a 235 person employee-owned, multi-service consulting and engineering firm headquartered in Peterborough, Ontario.

This acquisition further develops Englobe’s service capacity, particularly in the environmental sector, and reaffirms the company’s steadfast vision of growing its domestic footprint in the Canadian market and supporting more clients and communities across the country. This is the third multi-service consulting firm to join Englobe’s growing Canadian platform in 2025. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: June 24, 2025

Written by: Waste Advantage Magazine

"Convertus Group, a full-cycle service provider for the treatment and processing of organic waste, announces the successful acquisition of AIM Group of Companies. This marks a major milestone in the waste management industry, bringing together two of the country’s most experienced players in organic waste processing. The partnership enhances Convertus’ position as the largest and most advanced operator of organic waste processing facilities in Canada, marking a significant step toward its goal of becoming North America’s leading organics processor. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: June 9, 2025

Written by: Josh Pringle

"The City of Ottawa has identified a waste-to-energy incinerator as one of the best options to deal with the city’s future garbage, but it would cost between $497 million and $882 million to build and there is a complex regulatory approval process.

With the Trail Road landfill expected to reach capacity in the next 10 to 15 years, the city is exploring options to deal with the city’s future garbage. In 2023, council directed staff to explore “proven technologies” to handle the city’s future waste management needs, including looking at waste-to-energy incineration and mixed waste processing.

The city explored five options:

• Status quo and private landfills once Trail Road landfill is full
• Waste-to-energy incineration facility
• Mixed waste processing facility
• Waste-to-energy incineration and mixed waste processing facility
• Build a new landfill ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: April 19, 2025

Written by: Mzwandile Poncana

"Company says redevelopment would not significantly impact local air quality or increase health risks.

Peel’s public health officials are warning expansion of a Brampton incinerator could increase pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposed fivefold expansion of the privately-owned waste incinerator could worsen air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in already overburdened neighbourhoods, deepening existing health disparities and exposing vulnerable residents to toxic chemicals, health officials said.

In a report presented to Regional Council April 10, Peel Public Health recommended that the Region urge the Ontario government to make approval of the project contingent on tighter pollution controls, independent oversight, and transparent emissions monitoring. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: May 6, 2025

Written by: Patty Winsa

"To meet the targets, tire companies can buy credits for tonnage. One company holds them all, and its competitors are crying foul.

There’s a battle brewing in the province’s recycling industry.

In one corner of the ring is eTracks Tire Management Systems, a non-profit organization created by the rubber and tire industry in Canada to manage recycling for companies that make or sell tires, which it does by contracting out the work for 70 to 80 per cent of the Ontario market.

In the other corner is a competitor, Environmental 360 Solutions, also known as E360, which not only manages recycling — albeit for a smaller number of tire makers — but has a transportation company that has haulers and recycling facilities and believes it can offer a more streamlined recycling service than an administrative “middleman,” as Donato Ardellini, the founder and president of E360, calls eTracks. ..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: May 4, 2025

Written by: Waste Advantage

"Circular Materials announces a significant milestone in its expansion of New Brunswick’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging and paper, effective May 1, 2025. This latest phase extends recycling to multi-family residences, schools and communities that were previously depot-based or without any recycling services. With this expansion, all communities in New Brunswick now have curbside recycling.

“New Brunswick is leading the way as the first Atlantic province to transition to extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, and we are proud to continue the important progress in the province,” said Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials. “This expansion reflects the power of collaboration—between producers, governments, First Nations, and communities—to build a strong circular economy that benefits all New Brunswickers.”..."

Read the full article here.

Published Online: April 15, 2025

Written by: Stephanie Bontorin

"Since 2020, the collaboration has collected and recycled more than 300,000 kgs of used household batteries. 

Call2Recycle and the City of Hamilton are celebrating a strengthened partnership that continues to advance battery recycling and support the City's waste management goals. Since 2020, this collaboration has resulted in the safe collection and recycling of more than 300,000 kilograms of used household batteries through the Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program, which includes roughly 60,000 kg in 2024 alone.

The collaboration is aimed at helping protect the environment by diverting batteries from landfills, reducing hazardous waste, and recovering valuable materials for reuse. In 2025, the partnership will evolve to make battery recycling more visible, accessible, and engaging for Hamilton residents of all ages. By taking a proactive approach to battery recycling, the City of Hamilton is demonstrating its commitment to a safe and responsible community in Ontario. ..."

Read the article here.

Published Online: April 7, 2025

"From the Yukon to Prince Edward Island, full extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for the recovery and recycling of packaging and paper products (PPP), which include food and beverage cartons, continue to be deployed across Canada. To recover the full range of targeted materials, these programs sometimes combine residential and out-of-home (public spaces, and industrial, commercial and institutional locations, also known as ICI) collection with deposit-return systems (DRS). Given the great variety of arrangements and diverse states of implementation in each province and territory, it can be challenging to keep up. As we’ve been doing every year since 2022, we briefly share below recent and upcoming developments of significance from our perspective. ..."

Read the blog post here

Published Online: March 3, 2025

Written by: Abdul Matin Sarfraz

"Toronto is grappling with an escalating waste management crisis as its landfill capacity approaches its limit. New provincial legislation giving municipalities veto power over new landfill sites is making the problem nearly impossible to solve.

The Green Lane Landfill, Toronto’s primary waste disposal site about 200 km west of the city, is projected to reach capacity by 2035. With no available land within its municipal boundaries to construct a large-scale landfill, the city must look to other jurisdictions to dispose of its garbage.

However, provisions in the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act requiring municipal approvals for new landfills is challenging the city’s efforts to find additional landfill capacity. ..."

Read the full article here.