New program, same bins, more items

New Provincial blue box collection system in 2026

The Province of Ontario will soon transition residential blue box programs away from municipalities to a new collection system operated by Circular Materials. 

Good news – under this new system, which starts on Jan. 1, your collection day and blue boxes will remain the same, with more items allowed to be recycled! 

The City of Vaughan will no longer be responsible for collecting your blue box materials or managing the purchase and/or replacement of blue boxes. 

The City is committed to supporting a smooth transition of the blue box program for all residents. This includes sharing updates and providing you with the latest information from Circular Materials and their recycling collection contractor, Miller Waste Systems. 

We know you have questions about what changes are coming, and we have the answers:

Will Vaughan residents get recycling carts?

No, Vaughan residents will not receive carts. You will continue to set out recycling in the blue boxes you already have. 

What changes will I see?

As your collection day and blue box will remain the same, the biggest change you will see is an expanded list of what can be recycled, which, as of Jan. 1, will also include: 

• chip bags and food wrapping, including plastic and foil wrappers

• deodorant stick containers 

• pet food bags

• reusable stand-up pouches

• Styrofoam™ 

• toothpaste tubes

• and more!

For more information on accepted items, visit circularmaterials.ca/vaughan.

Who will be responsible for garbage and green bin collection?

The City will continue to collect garbage, green bin organics, large and bulky items, and leaf and yard waste, including real Christmas trees.

Will property taxes change when the City no longer collects blue box recycling?

Currently, the City receives a provincial grant to help fund its blue box program. When the City transitions responsibility of the blue box program to the Province, Circular Materials will assume the cost of recycling collection and the City will no longer receive a grant to support these expenses. Therefore, this transition will not directly impact property taxes. 

Vaughan maintains one of the lowest tax rates in York Region and one of the lowest and most competitive tax rates in the Greater Toronto Area.

Will I still be able to purchase or exchange a City-branded blue box after Jan. 1?

No. Starting Jan. 1, the City will no longer sell new blue boxes or exchange broken or damaged City-branded blue boxes. You can order them through Service Vaughan until Wednesday, Dec. 31. Starting in 2026, blue boxes will be available for purchase through Miller Waste Systems. You can reach them by phone at 1-855-752-3762 or by email at area10@millerwaste.ca.

The City will continue to sell new green bins and kitchen containers online through Service Vaughan and at select community centres. We will also continue to offer a free exchange of broken or damaged City-branded green bins.

Why is this change happening?

The Province of Ontario introduced a new Provincial Regulation 391/21 under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which shifts the financial and operational responsibility of residential blue box collection programs from municipalities to producers of recyclable materials (i.e. suppliers of paper products or packaging-like products comprised of paper, glass, metal or plastic). This means the businesses that sell recyclable products and packaging will be responsible for them over their full lifecycle – including collecting, sorting and recycling blue box materials – with Circular Materials overseeing the transition.

Through this new recycling system, the Province aims to provide consistent service throughout Ontario and allow more materials to be recycled in more communities. 

Who should I call if I have a recycling issue in 2026 and onward? 

As of 2026, inquiries related to blue box collection should be directed to Miller Waste Systems at 1-855-752-3762 or area10@millerwaste.ca. For further inquiries or feedback on your collection service, contact Circular Materials at 1-877-667-2626 or customerservice@circularmaterials.ca. 

To stay up to date on the blue box program transition, visit vaughan.ca/BlueBox.

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