Recycling and Blue Box

Everything placed in the blue box needs to be loose (not in bags or inside other containers) and empty, clean and free of food.

Here are some common items that are accepted in the blue box. 

• Aerosol cans (empty, lids separate)
• Aluminum foil, trays and plates
• Boxboard (cereal, cracker, tissue boxes)
• Cardboard boxes
• Egg cartons
• Glass bottles and jars (lids separate)
• Metal food and beverage cans
• Metal paint cans (empty, dry, lids separate)
• Milk and juice cartons, juice boxes (no straws)
• Newspaper, household paper and envelopes
• 100% paper cups (with no plastic or wax coating)
• Paper-based cans (frozen juice, cookie dough containers, coffee cans, chip cylinders – lids separate)
• Plastic bottles, drink containers (no straws), jars and jugs (used for food or beverage)
• Plastic food tubs (yogurt, margarine, sour cream, cottage cheese, or ice cream containers)
• Plastic pails or bottles less than five litres in size (laundry soap bottles, dish soap containers)
• Plastic, rigid, clear containers/clamshells (no foam packaging)

NOTE: All containers must be empty and clean, free of food or any other residue. Cardboard and boxboard must be flattened and bundled.

For information about specific items, use Bindicator

Anything not found on the accepted list is considered contamination when it goes into the blue box. This includes plastic bags, like grocery/retail bags or plastic bags full of recyclables or newspapers still in their plastic sleeve. Other items that should not go in your blue box include foam packaging like Styrofoam, black plastic, take-out cups and any food left in containers. 

Items not accepted in the blue box include:

• Plastic bags of any kind (refer to Bindicator for plastic take-back options)
• Black plastic (including black plastic take-out containers)
• Batteries (do not put in garbage, refer to Bindicator for safe drop-off locations)
• Clothing, linens, shoes, towels and other textiles (take reusable items to a donation centre)
• Coat hangers, mirrors, window glass and light bulbs
• Coffee pods
• Cookie bags and potato chip bags
• Drinking glasses, cups, dishes, pots, pans and utensils
• Drink pouches, food wrappers
• Facial tissue, paper towels (these go in the green bin)
• Flat take-out cup lids
• Food-soiled paper, like dirty paper plates and pizza boxes
• Furnace filters
• Large foam packaging often used to protect electronics
• Foam dishware, like take-out bowls, cups and plates and meat trays (these go in the garbage)
• Household hazardous waste like cleaners, compact fluorescent light bulbs, motor oil, needles and paint  (take to a Household Hazardous Waste Depot)
• Lawn furniture, garden hose, string and rope
• Motor oil containers
• Newspapers left in plastic sleeves (remove and discard plastic sleeve bags before recycling your newspaper)
• Plastic bags from bread, produce and frozen vegetables
• Pill bottles (less than two inches or five cm in diameter)
• Plastic re-sealable zipped food bags
• Plastic food wrap, wax paper, parchment paper
• Plastic/foil pill or gum packets
• Plastic pails, bottles and jugs larger than five litres in size
• Plastic straws and cutlery
• Plastic toys (take reusable items to a donation centre)
• Propane tanks or cylinders (take to a Household Hazardous Waste Depot)
• Shredded paper (take to a Community Environmental Centre or place in the green bin)
• Take-out cups (coffee and pop cups)

For information about specific items, use Bindicator

If you missed your curbside collection day or you have more than your blue box can hold, you can drop off your blue box recyclables at:

• East Gwillimbury Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Transfer Station, Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

For addresses and hours of operation, please visit york.ca/WasteDepots
 

Who do I contact if I have questions about my current blue box recycling or my blue box was missed for collection?

Until December 31, 2025, for blue box curbside collection questions contact your city or town. For questions about blue box processing and recycling, contact York Region at 1-877-464-9675 or email @email 

Why is the blue box changing?

A new Blue Box Regulation was approved by the Ontario government to help create a waste-free province and build a circular economy.  

This change in blue box recycling means:  

• More items will be recycled
• The same items will be accepted in blue boxes across Ontario no matter where you live
• Any change to what is allowed in the blue box or how those materials are collected and processed will be communicated to residents by Circular Materials

For questions about the new recycling program please contact Circular Materials at @email or call 1-877-667-2626. 

What cities and towns are switching to recycling carts?

Circular Materials announced that carts are part of the blue box transition for the following towns, and will be provided by the contracted collector, GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL), to be delivered to your driveway:  

• Town of Aurora
• Town of East Gwillimbury
• Town of Georgina
• Township of King
• Town of Newmarket  
• Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

Please note, these towns were not part of this decision as it is no longer their program or funded through their tax rate.  

For any questions regarding these carts, please contact GFL at @email or call 1-833-779-4351.  

The cities of Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan will continue to use their existing blue boxes in 2026. If you have any questions about collection or replacement blue boxes, please contact Miller Waste at @email or call 1-855-752-3762.

For questions about the future recycling program please contact Circular Materials at @email or call 1-877-667-2626. 

What can I do with my old blue boxes after I start using my new recycling cart?

Blue boxes can be used for storage or repurposed for other uses around your home and garden. If you no longer need them, residents in the following towns will be able to drop off unwanted blue boxes at certain municipal facilities for a select period of time in January and February (dates to be determined):  

• Town of Aurora
• Town of East Gwillimbury
• Town of Georgina
• Township of King
• Town of Newmarket  

Please check with your local town for more details.  

The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will be collecting unwanted blue boxes directly from their residents the week of February 2 to 6, 2026. Please contact the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville for more details.

All York Region residents can bring their unwanted blue boxes to the Georgina Transfer Station from January 5 to 31, 2026. Please visit york.ca/WasteDepots for address and hours.  

How do I exchange the cart I received for a smaller one?

Residents in Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Newmarket and Whitchurch-Stouffville can request an exchange by completing the online form at Circular Materials Ontario. Once there, search for your town, then click the link called “Recycling Cart Exchange Request Form and FAQ.” 

What are some of the new items that can be recycled under the new recycling program?  

Under the new Circular Materials program, the following items will be accepted for recycling:  

• Black plastic containers
• Deodorant holders
• Frozen juice containers
• Hot and cold plastic-lined, paper beverage cups
• Ice cream tubs
• Polystyrene foam packaging
• Plastic bags
• Toothpaste tubes 

Will my property taxes go down now that the Region is no longer responsible for processing recycling?

Any savings from the blue box transition will be used to manage and enhance our existing waste programs and offset any rising operational costs due to inflation. 

Where should I put shredded paper?

Starting December 31, 2025, put shredded paper in tied clear plastic bags in your blue box or recycling cart.

To reduce the amount of shredded paper you produce, consider shredding only the small portion of the document that contains personal or sensitive information and recycle the remaining full sheets.  

Shredded paper can also be placed in backyard composters, in your green bin (in small amounts) or dropped off in clear plastic bags at the Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre or the McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre.

For depot addresses and hours of operation, please visit york.ca/WasteDepots

Can I recycle foam packaging?

Starting December 31, 2025, foam packaging will be accepted in the new Circular Materials curbside recycling program.  

York Region waste depots do not currently accept foam packaging for recycling, but it can be dropped off as garbage at the following depots:

• Elgin Mills Community Environmental Centre
• Georgina Transfer Station, Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Depot
• McCleary Court Community Environmental Centre

For depot addresses and hours of operation, please visit york.ca/WasteDepots