Blue Box Transition

While residential waste has been transitioned to a new nonprofit organization, Circular Materials, industrial, commercial, and institutional (IC&I) waste is regulated separately from residential waste in Ontario. This means that businesses and institutions will not be served by Circular Materials, as per the Government of Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation. Starting in 2026, IC&I recycling will need to be managed separately from residential and public space recycling, meaning changes will need to be made in how the Downtown’s mixed-use properties manage recycling.

Downtown Renewal Program

The City is undergoing a Downtown Renewal Program to transform how our downtown looks, feels, and functions while preserving its unique cultural heritage. As part of this program, we are planning to update the way we collect waste from downtown streetscapes and eligible properties. A plan that includes updated litter containers to serve pedestrians and new communal underground waste containers to serve downtown properties has been adopted by Council and will begin being implemented in coordination with the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program in 2026.

User Fees

User fees for Downtown waste collection were previously explored in the Council-adopted Solid Waste Management Master Plan and Service Rationalization Study. The timing of the Blue Box Transition and Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program make now the ideal time to decide how a user fee can help sustain waste collection, improve waste reduction and diversion, create accountability and transparency around costs, and aligning tax-supported services inside and outside the Downtown.