New provincial recycling system leaves Toronto residents with overflowing bins and few answers
Since January’s switch to producer-run recycling, condo and apartment residents in Toronto report missed pickups, growing piles of recyclables and conflicting instructions about overflow collection.
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By Torontoer Staff
Toronto condo and apartment residents say Ontario’s new, producer-funded recycling system has left them with overflowing bins, missed collections and confusing rules about curbside overflow. Multi-unit buildings that once relied on steady city pickup now report weeks without service, and some residents are storing recyclables inside their units.
The province moved blue-bin collection to an extended producer responsibility model on Jan. 1. The system, run by Circular Materials and delivered in Toronto by contracted hauler GFL Environmental, has struggled to match previous municipal operations, according to residents and waste experts.
How the new system is supposed to work
Under extended producer responsibility, companies that make or sell packaged goods fund and oversee recycling services that municipalities previously operated. Circular Materials, a not-for-profit funded by major retailers and food brands, coordinates provincewide collection and hired GFL to provide curbside pickup in Toronto.
What residents are facing
Residents of lowrise and midrise buildings across neighbourhoods such as Forest Hill and near Trinity Bellwoods describe weeks of missed collections and mountains of cardboard, bottles and mixed packaging outside building entrances. Some buildings last saw pickup in late December and remain waiting for a promised resumption of service.
Everything with recycling had been smooth for years and now it’s a disaster.
Rodney Snooks, Forest Hill resident
To avoid accumulating piles in shared areas, some residents say they have brought clear, bulging bags of recyclables into their apartments. Others reported calling Circular Materials, GFL and elected officials repeatedly, spending long periods on hold before receiving inconsistent responses.
It was beyond frustrating. Each of these phone calls represented at least 20 minutes on hold.
Jeannie Calleja, townhouse resident near Trinity Bellwoods Park
Official responses and rule changes
Circular Materials says it is working closely with GFL to stabilise service and that residents’ concerns are a priority. The agency has also advised some regions that overflow recycling set beside bins, even in clear bags, will not be collected because of operational constraints. Peel Region received notices that the overflow ban would begin on March 1, later delayed to May 30 to give residents more time to adjust.
We continue to thank residents for their patience and understanding. We’re committed to building a system that Ontarians can count on in the long term.
Allen Langdon, Circular Materials CEO
The provincial regulator, the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, said it is reviewing no-overflow rules that appear to conflict with provincial regulations requiring collection of all blue-box material set out for curbside pickup.
Practical steps residents can take now
Until pickups stabilise, residents and building managers can use several strategies to reduce waste build-up and avoid fines or contamination of recycling streams.
- Check Circular Materials and GFL websites and apps for updated collection days and confirmed service notices.
- Document missed pickups with dates and photos and forward them to building management, Circular Materials and your municipal councillor.
- Compress cardboard and flatten boxes to minimise space, and bundle boxes if required by local rules.
- Store small volumes of recyclables inside units if building common areas are crowded, and designate a dry, ventilated spot to avoid pests.
- Consider temporary private collection only as a last resort and confirm the recycler’s handling practices to avoid contamination.
Longer-term concerns from experts
Researchers and waste-policy experts say the transition’s operational problems are one issue, but they also flag systemic risks related to what materials will actually be recycled. Expanded lists now include items such as toothpaste tubes and coffee cups, but there is limited market demand for many of those materials.
Ontario’s transition to producer-run recycling has been terrible. Cost containment appears to be a priority, and I would be shocked if you’ve met anybody outside Circular Materials who says this transition has gone smoothly.
Calvin Lakhan, York University waste-policy expert
Experts also note that small businesses which previously relied on municipal pickup may now face new costs to secure private recycling services. That could reduce overall diversion from landfills if uptake is uneven or processing capacity is limited.
What to watch next
Provincial and municipal officials, Circular Materials and GFL have pledged to smooth the rollout. Households should watch for updated collection schedules, official guidance on overflow rules and rulings from the provincial regulator about conflicting requirements. Residents experiencing persistent service gaps should keep records and press elected representatives for answers.
For now, residents say the transition has disrupted a once-reliable system and introduced additional time and expense for people who expected curbside recycling to continue without interruption. Resolving the operational gaps will determine whether the new model ultimately reduces costs and improves recycling, or creates long-term headaches for households and businesses.
recyclingTorontowaste-managementCircular MaterialsGFL
