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Province will take over residential recycling collection from Simcoe County

October 2, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

As part of a province-wide shift in how recycling services are delivered, residential recycling collection in Simcoe County will transition to the management of Circular Materials, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

The change reflects the province’s initiative to standardize and streamline recycling collection and processing across the province, shifting the responsibility for the collection and processing of recyclable materials from municipalities to producers.  

“This transition marks a shift to a provincially directed recycling system, meaning the County will no longer be responsible for residential recycling collection,” said Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke. “While we expect some challenges during the change, we’re committed to doing everything we can to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible for our residents.”

Under this new model, Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization, will oversee recycling services for single-family residential units. The County of Simcoe will continue to provide garbage and organics collection as well as operate local waste drop-off facilities.

Your recycling will still be collected on the same day and using the same carts. The only difference is that it will be picked up by new trucks operated by Emterra, on behalf of Circular Materials.

Garbage and organics will continue to be collected by Miller Waste trucks on behalf of the County. Collection schedules will remain the same, with garbage and recycling alternating weeks and organics collected weekly.

To ensure all materials are collected, please place your recycling and organics at the curb by 7 a.m.  

Under the new recycling system, Ontarians will be able to recycle the same materials curbside province-wide, with additional items being added to the program that may not have been accepted before.

Visit circularmaterials.ca/simcoe to view accepted materials.

Recycling drop-offs at County waste drop-off facilities will include a disposal fee as of January 1, 2026, as the County will no longer receive provincial funding to offset net recycling costs.

Discussions with the Province regarding recycling collection for small industrial, commercial, and institutional (IC&I) businesses under the new program are ongoing.

It is anticipated that more information will be available on this decision later this fall.

This transition is part of Ontario’s move to shift responsibility for recycling to the producers of packaging and printed paper, aligning with extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations. 

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