Ontario Blue Box Transition

As of January 1, 2025, Temiskaming Shores' recycling program will be managed by Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. 

For additional information on the recycling program including recycling resources, recycling calendar and, acceptable and not acceptable materials, visit the Circular Material website. 

For additional information on residential curbside pickup, please contact Phippen Waste Management at 705-647-6217. 

Circular Materials - Temiskaming Shores Website

 Public Notice-December 19, 2024

Ontario Blue Box Transition - January 1, 2025
Operational Changes – Recycling Facility (547 Barr Drive)

Effective January 1, 2025, the recycling program in the City of Temiskaming Shores will be managed by Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), under the requirements of the Government of Ontario Blue Box Regulation 391/21.

Effective February 1, 2025, the recycling facility located at 547 Barr Drive will be closed for public use.  The depot recycling bins currently located outside of this facility will be relocated to the New Liskeard Landfill (704165 Rockley Road).  Any excess recyclable material may be deposited for free at this location.

The City of Temiskaming Shores has entered into an agreement with Phippen Waste Management for the lease of the recycling facility located at 547 Barr Drive from February 1, 2025, until April 30, 2025. Industrial, Commercial or Institutional (ICI) owners currently using the facility or depot bins are encouraged to reach out to Phippen Waste Management to make drop-off arrangements.

The City of Temiskaming Shores is investigating options moving forward as the requirements of the Government of Ontario Blue Box Regulation will change how the current recycling program operates.  More information will be provided as it becomes available. 

Recycling Facility

ICI (Industrial, Commercial, Institutional) 

Public Notice - December 13, 2024

Ontario Blue Box Transition - January 1, 2025
Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Curbside Recycling Collection

As of January 1, 2025, Temiskaming Shores' recycling program will be managed by Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), under the requirements of the new Provincial Governments Blue Box Regulation 391/21.

Within the regulation, CMO is not required to collect from any ICI establishments, however, will allow the ICI material to be mixed with residential material from January 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025.

Please visit the City’s website for further information as to how this will affect your establishment should you be part of the current curbside recycling collection program.

The City of Temiskaming Shores is committed to investigating options moving forward as it is recognized that the new
Provincial Blue Box Regulation will have financial implications to the ICI establishments currently part of the program.

ICI Property Owner Letter - December 5, 2024

Dear Business/ ICI Property Owner,

This letter is to provide notice of an upcoming change to the curbside recycling collection program, currently provided by the City of Temiskaming Shores.

When the municipal curbside recycling program began in 2014, it was intended to service residential properties only. Over the years, the City gradually extended curbside collection service to industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) properties.

Recently, the Province of Ontario passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation to make producers 100% responsible for the end-of-life costs for recyclable materials. Historically, producers paid 50% of the costs, and municipalities were responsible for paying the balance. Since the legislation passed, municipalities from across Ontario have been transitioning to Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), a not-for-profit producer responsibility organization, committed to building efficient and effective recycling systems to minimize waste, and ensure materials are reused.

Effective January 1, 2025, the complete curbside recycling program in the City of Temiskaming Shores will be under the management of CMO.

With this transition, ICI properties will not be eligible for curbside recycling services. In addition to the ICI properties, municipal buildings, daycares, places of worship, and not-for-profit organizations are also excluded. There are some locations that are partially eligible for recycling collection, and often have commercial/ retail spaces on lower levels and residential units above. In these circumstances, curbside recycling collection will be maintained for residential units; however, curbside recycling collection for the commercial units would no longer be eligible. CMO has implemented a transition period to provide non-eligible properties time to make alternate arrangements, by allowing their recycling materials to be collected from January 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025. After this transition time, non-eligible properties will need to make alternate/ private arrangements for the disposal of their recycling materials.

During this transition period, the City negotiated pricing to continue curbside recycling collection for the non-eligible properties in 2025. As a result, the cost to collect and process recycling materials from non-eligible properties will be $28 per bin per month, or $336 per bin for the year. This cost will be added and payable through the tax billing process. Due to the timing of the program rollout, the City will cover the cost of recycling collection for non-eligible properties, for the month of January 2025.

Effective January 1, 2026, the City will no longer be assisting the non-eligible properties with recycling collection. Each property will be responsible for making collection arrangements with a private service provider.

Should your organization choose to opt out of the suggested recycling collection service, please provide e-mail notification to Steve Burnett, Manager of Environmental Services at sburnett@temiskamingshores.ca no later than January 17, 2025.

Yours truly,
Steve Burnett,
Manager of Environmental Services

View or print a copy of the letter.
ICI Property Owner Letter - December 5, 2024

 Resources

 Resolution No. 2024-144 - Resolution of Support to Amend Blue Box Regulation for 'Ineligible' Sources

About

Ontario’s Blue Box Program

In 2021, the Ontario government passed a new regulation that shifts the financial and operational responsibility of blue box recycling programs to producers – those that produce and supply blue box materials to residents. In this new extended producer responsibility framework, producers will become fully responsible for collecting and recycling blue box materials.

Transition to extended producer responsibility will take place between 2023 – 2025, with the new framework fully in place by January 1, 2026. As a result, The City of Temiskaming Shores blue box recycling program is now managed by Circular Materials, who 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.

Why

Historically, Ontario’s blue box programs were operated by municipalities who shared the costs with producers. Now, under the Blue Box Regulation, Ontario is transitioning to a new model where producers are fully responsible for operating and funding the entire blue box program.

In 2026, Ontario can expect a convenient, consistent, and effective recycling system in place that will improve recycling rates. This includes a consistent list of recyclable materials across the province.

This new system operated by Circular Materials represents the evolution from product stewardship to a more circular
economy where materials are collected, recycled and used again as recycled content in new packaging and products.

Timeline

Transition to extended producer responsibility will take place between 2023 – 2025, with the new framework fully in place on January 1, 2026. Along with the Regulation, the government released a schedule that assigns each of the 376 Ontario communities a transition date.
  • July - December 2023 | 67 Communities Transition
  • January - December 2024 | 127 Communities Transition
  • January - December 2025 | 182 Communities Transition
  • 2026 | Transition to new system complete

Learn more about the government schedule on their website. 

Ontario Bulletin - Updates to the Blue Box Transition Schedule

Circular Materials

Who is Circular Materials?

Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit organization that builds efficient and effective recycling systems where materials are collected, recycled and returned to producers to use as recycled content in new packaging and paper. As the administrator of Ontario’s common collection system, Circular Materials is responsible for operating the new system for blue box materials. We are committed to increasing recycling rates across Ontario and ensuring more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment.

Learn more about Circular Materials on their website at:

Circular Materials Website

How does Circular Materials Ontario fit into this?

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. The City of Temiskaming Shores is collaborating with Circular Materials to deliver a best-in-class system that continues to deliver recycling services and support our residents.

During the transition period, there will be no change to how and what residents can recycle.

Following transition, Ontario can expect to have a convenient, consistent, and effective recycling system in place that will improve recycling rates and meet the needs of Ontarians.

Learn more about Circular Materials on their website at:

Circular Materials Website

Contact

 Contact GLF for any recycling collection inquiries. They can be contacted for:

  • Replacement recycling bins
  • Missed collections
  • Other recycling questions

Email | C31Recycling@gflenv.com

Phone | 1- 888-220-4352

Frequently Asked Questions

What does extended producer responsibility (EPR) mean?

EPR is a framework in which producers – the businesses that supply paper and packaging to residents – are responsible for managing the end-of-life management of these materials. EPR enables innovation, operational efficiencies, increased standard levels, and access to materials. It is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms to improve recycling rates.

What advantages are associated with this new system?

EPR is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms to improve recycling rates and advance a circular economy where materials are collected, recycled, and returned to producers for use as recycled content in new products and packaging.

 What does this transition mean for residents?

Transition to the new framework will occur in a phased approach over the next two and a half years. During this time, Ontarians will not notice any differences to their recycling schedule and will still be able to recycle the same materials as before.

Residents with recycling questions can contact their community’s contractor.

Circular Material - Temiskaming Shores Website

Resources

 Ontario Regulation 391/21 - Blue Box

Ontario - Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy

Circular Materials 

Circular Material - Temiskaming Shores Website