Recycling

A: Under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act of 2016, Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation shifts responsibility for the Blue Box Program to the organizations that produce products and packaging. Under the old system, communities shared the costs. 

Starting July 1, 2023, communities began transitioning their Blue Box programs to this new extended producer responsibility framework. During the transition period (July 1-December 31 2025), you won’t notice any difference in the materials you can recycle. What’s changing is who is responsible for funding and operating the recycling system. 

Once the transition to the new framework is complete in 2026, producers will be fully accountable and financially responsible for recycling the products and packaging that end up in recycling bins. 

A: Circular Materials is the administrator of the common collection system and a not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario.  

Recycling in Ontario - Circular Materials 

Reg. 391/21: BLUE BOX 

Updates to the Blue Box Transition Schedule | Environmental Registry of Ontario 

A: The recycling collection map, created by Circular Materials, can be found via Google Maps .

South Frontenac has its own dedicated page with both the map and the calendar which can be found at:

www.circularmaterials/southfrontenac

A: Yes, residents can continue to bring their recycling material to the three Northern Transfer sites. Salem WDS and Bradshaw WDS will close for the winter as of December 1st, however Green Bay WDS remains open every Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Starting January 1, 2026, Circular Materials will fully manage Ontario’s Blue Box program and any future program changes will be made at their discretion. 

There are marked bins for any commercial businesses to dispose of accepted recycle materials at Green Bay WDS as commercial and residential recycling cannot be co-mingled any longer.

A: Yes, during the transition period (January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025), the South Frontenac Recycles  will still be available. All new collection days will be entered into the ReCollect app therefore, if your recycle day is changing it will be easier than ever to get that weekly reminder for both garbage and recycle collection.  As of January 1, 2026, Circular Materials will fully manage Ontario’s Blue Box program and any program changes will be made at their discretion. 

Effective Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the Township is no longer responsible for providing recycling pick up services. Under the new recycling program, the changes to recycling collection will impact 'non-eligible sources' - industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) property owners.

Non-eligible properties include:

- All private sector businesses
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Municipal buildings or facilities
- Daycares
- Places of worship
- Campgrounds and trailer parks
- Commercial farms (collection will continue for residential farmhouses)

Any non-eligible sources previously receiving curbside collection will no longer receive curbside recycling collection as of July 1, 2025, as ICI property owners are not included under the provincial regulations.  In an effort to encourage waste diversion among these non-eligible sources, the Township will provide collection bins at the following waste disposal sites for drop-off recycling:

Green Bay Waste Disposal Site - 174 Burns Rd, Godfrey
 - Fridays 8:30 am – 12:30 pm & Sundays 12:30 - 4:30

Loughborough Waste Disposal Site - 1818 Norway Rd, Perth Road 
 - Monday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (two days a week)

These sites will be maintained for businesses to continue to recycle eligible materials. There will be clear signage marking what will be accepted into which bins. The bins will follow the residential streams set by Emterra. 

There may be some properties that will have both eligible and non-eligible materials. Non-eligible sources/properties need to be separated from residential collection and serviced in an alternative way.

Mixed Use Properties:
- Residential apartments on top of a business are considered eligible
- Industrial or commercial property underneath the residential building are non-eligible

Commercial Buildings Along Residential Routes:
- Residential buildings (single family homes/ multi-unit residential buildings) are eligible
- Industrial or commercial properties (e.g., coffee shop, convenience store) are non-eligible