Ontario’s new residential recycling operator, Circular Materials, is under review after announcing it will stop collecting overflow recycling left in blue bags beside bins in some communities. The change, which the company has said will apply in areas that use automated cart systems, has prompted complaints from municipal officials and a compliance check by the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority.
Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit, began operating curbside recycling services across the province on Jan. 1 as part of Ontario’s producer-funded program. The decision about overflow bags takes effect this spring in affected communities, and municipal leaders say residents remain unsure about what will and will not be collected.
Regulator steps in to review compliance
The Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority, which enforces Ontario’s Blue Box regulations, told CTV News Toronto that it is working with Circular Materials to confirm the company’s operations meet regulatory requirements. The authority pointed to language in the Blue Box regulation that requires collectors to "collect, in a single day, all blue box material set out for curbside collection at the residence."
RPRA’s Compliance Team is actively engaged with Circular Materials to understand their operational plans to provide curbside recycling collection services across the province and to ensure they understand and fulfill all of the requirements of the Blue Box Regulation.
RPRA spokesperson
What municipalities are hearing
Notices to homeowners in Peel Region and other municipalities have identified those communities as affected by the new rule. Councillors and the mayor in Mississauga reported mixed messages from Circular Materials about timing, which has added to confusion among residents who rely on overflow blue bags when bins are full.
This has made it very challenging for residents. There’s no clarity on the rules in terms of what is recyclable and what isn’t, which are going to be picked up, when are the bins going to be picked up, can you still have bags picked up?
Mississauga Councillor Alvin Tedjo
Tedjo and other local officials said residents had grown used to unlimited recycling, placing excess material in blue bags beside their bins. The change appears to be uneven across the region, with some cities, including Toronto, continuing to accept overflow bags while others will not.
We can only assume the Circular Materials supervision team is on a learning curve and will improve. What is important now is to have a contact number and sufficient folks to take the numerous complaints calls we were inundated with.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish
Originally, they said they won’t pick it up at all. Then they said they would till March 1 and now they extended that till the end of May, which gives us some time to work with Circular Materials to find a way because people with overflow recycling need a solution.
Mississauga Councillor Dipika Damerla
Circular Materials’ explanation
Circular Materials CEO Allen Langdon said the restriction on leaving materials outside of carts applies only in areas that use automated cart collection. He said residents in those communities will receive specific instructions from the company about how to place recyclables for pickup.
This includes not leaving extra materials outside of the bin. This is only the case in some communities in Ontario, and further details and instructions are communicated directly with residents in these communities.
Allen Langdon, CEO, Circular Materials
What residents should do now
Municipal officials and the regulator advise residents to check local notices and municipal websites for the most current guidance. Where instructions differ between neighbouring municipalities, residents should follow the rules set by their local collection service.
- Confirm your municipality’s recycling rules on the city or region website.
- Watch for direct communications from Circular Materials about collection changes in your area.
- Keep recyclables loose in the bin if your community uses automated cart collection.
- If you have overflow and no official guidance, contact your municipality for temporary options before placing bags at the curb.
Councillors warned that inconsistent rules risk reducing recycling rates if residents find the process confusing or inconvenient. They also urged Circular Materials to provide clearer, consistent information and customer support while the new system is being rolled out.
Where this leaves the program
RPRA’s engagement with Circular Materials is intended to ensure the new operator complies with provincial law as it settles into service. Municipal leaders say they want a durable solution that treats residents consistently across Ontario and keeps recycling levels high.
For now, residents should expect follow-up communications from both their municipality and Circular Materials. The regulator review is ongoing, and officials say they will work to resolve inconsistencies and clarify collection rules for affected communities.
