The Province of Ontario is implementing significant changes to waste diversion and recycling under the Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg 391/21). These changes support the transition to a full producer-responsibility system, where those who create packaging play a larger role in managing it at end of life.

These updates begin affecting businesses on January 1, 2026, and we want to ensure Whitby businesses understand how they may apply to your operations. As the Whitby Chamber of Commerce (your local chamber) our priority is to keep you informed, supported, and equipped to navigate these changes with confidence.

For Small Businesses Receiving Municipal Blue Bin Service
Beginning January 1, 2026, Region of Durham blue bin recycling collection for small businesses will end.

The final day of municipal pickup will be December 31, 2025. After this date, small businesses must secure private recycling and waste-collection services to manage their recyclables.

We recognize this is a significant operational shift, especially for storefronts, small offices, and businesses located in mixed-use or multi-tenant buildings that have traditionally relied on municipal service.

For Medium and Large Businesses — “Producers” Under the Regulation
Some businesses may have obligations under the Blue Box Regulation if they supply packaging or paper products to Ontario consumers.

A business may be considered a Producer if it:

• Manufactures packaged products,
• Imports packaged products into Ontario,
• Places a brand or private label on packaging, or
• Sells packaged products directly to consumers in Ontario.
• If your business meets one of these criteria, it may be required to:
• Register with the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA)
• Report annually the type and amount of packaging supplied in Ontario
• Meet collection and recycling requirements, often by joining a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO)
• Contribute financially to the collection, processing, and recycling of Blue Box materials

Obligations vary based on business size, supply chain role, and the amount and type of packaging supplied. Not every medium or large business will qualify, but many will, and it is important to assess whether the regulation applies.

Why These Changes are Happening - and Why Businesses are Now Responsible for Their Own Recycling

The Ontario government has stated that the shift to a full producer-responsibility recycling system is intended to modernize the Blue Box program and address long-standing challenges in how recycling has been managed across the province. According to the Province, these changes are occurring for several key reasons:

1. To Improve Recycling Efficiency and Outcomes

• Ontario’s recycling rates have been stagnant for years, with many materials ending up in landfills despite being technically recyclable.
  The Province believes that transferring responsibility to producers, who design and supply packaging will:
• Encourage better packaging design that is easier and more cost-effective to recycle
• Reduce contamination and improve the quality of recycled materials
• Increase overall recycling performance across Ontario

2. To Create a Consistent, Harmonized Recycling System

Currently, recycling rules vary widely from one municipality to another. This inconsistency results in:

• Confusion for residents and businesses
• Higher costs for municipalities
• A fragmented recycling system that is difficult to manage
• Under the new model, producers will run a single, province-wide recycling system with consistent rules and material lists. This means:
• The same materials accepted everywhere
• Standardized collection
• Clearer expectations for businesses and residents

3. To Shift Costs Away From Municipalities and Taxpayers

• For decades, municipal governments, and ultimately local taxpayers, have borne most of the cost of operating blue box programs.
• The Province’s goal is to ensure that those who create packaging take responsibility for managing it at end-of-life.
• By shifting costs and responsibilities to producers, municipalities will save millions annually, and businesses will become more accountable for the packaging they place in the marketplace.

4. To Align Ontario With Global Best Practices

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems are already widely used in Europe, British Columbia, Several U.S. states, Other Canadian provinces
• The Province has emphasized that Ontario must modernize its recycling system to remain competitive and environmentally responsible. EPR is viewed as an industry-supported, internationally proven approach to improving recycling outcomes and reducing waste.

5. To Support a Circular Economy

The regulation is part of Ontario’s broader Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, which focuses on:

• Reducing waste
• Reusing materials
• Keeping recyclable resources in the economy longer

The Province believes that when producers are responsible for the life cycle of packaging, they have a strong incentive to:

• Reduce unnecessary packaging
• Use materials that can be recycled more easily
• Invest in recycling technologies and infrastructure

These explanations come directly from the government’s stated objectives when introducing O. Reg. 391/21 and its supporting materials. Click here for more information.

Why Businesses Will No Longer Receive Blue Bin Pick-up from the Region

Although the Blue Box Regulation is primarily about shifting recycling responsibility to producers, it also fundamentally changes who is entitled to blue box collection services in Ontario.

Under the new model, blue box collection is only required for eligible sources, and the Province has clearly defined that businesses are not part of the “eligible sources” for the producer-run system.

1. The new recycling system is for households — not businesses

Under Ontario’s updated Blue Box Regulation, the new producer-run recycling system is only required to service:

• Homes
• Multi-residential buildings
• Schools
• Long-term care/retirement homes
• Some public spaces

Businesses are not included, which means they are no longer eligible for blue box pickup.

2. Municipalities in Ontario won’t run blue bin programs anymore

Municipalities must hand over their blue box recycling programs to producer responsibility organizations.

Once this happens:

• Municipalities lose control of the service
• They cannot choose to keep collecting from businesses
• Producers are not allowed to add businesses to their routes

3. Businesses must now use private recycling services

• Because the new system does not cover commercial properties, businesses must arrange recycling services through a private provider
• Fees and pickup schedules will depend on the provider selected

4. Why the Province made this choice

The Province designed the new Blue Box system to focus on:

• Improving recycling for residents
• Making producers responsible for residential packaging
• Reducing costs to municipalities and taxpayers

Their view is that businesses should manage their own waste separately through commercial recycling services.

Why This Feels Sudden to Businesses
Although the changes to Ontario’s Blue Box system may feel abrupt, the transition to a full producer-responsibility model was actually announced several years ago when the Province introduced Ontario Regulation 391/21 under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act.

However, despite the early introduction of the regulation, many businesses were not directly engaged or informed during the development and rollout stages.

Communication from the Province and its regulatory partners has largely been directed at producers, municipalities, and waste management associations, not everyday businesses that currently have their blue bins picked up or supply packaged products. Guidance and plain-language explanations have been slow to reach businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions