What changed on January 1, 2026
Ontario finished moving its Blue Box program to full producer responsibility. The companies that make and sell packaging and paper now pay for and run residential recycling. Circular Materials operates the common collection system and the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) regulates it. The old Stewardship Ontario program wound up at the end of 2025.
Municipalities no longer run or fund the Blue Box. That's the part that reaches businesses.
Who is (and isn't) covered
The producer-run Blue Box serves eligible sources — mainly homes. Most industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) properties are outside it. Municipal guidance notes a few exceptions that stay eligible, such as elementary and secondary schools and non-profit long-term care homes.
If your business used to put recycling out with municipal collection, check with your municipality. Some have ended business recycling service; Toronto, for example, stopped signing up new business recycling customers on January 1, 2026.
The rules that already applied: O. Reg. 103/94
Separately from the Blue Box, Ontario Regulation 103/94 requires certain larger IC&I sites to separate recyclables at source. The main thresholds:
| Sector | Covered when… | Must separate |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | Store or shopping complex of 10,000 m² or more | Aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, fine paper, glass, newsprint |
| Office | 10,000 m² or more of office space | The same six materials |
| Restaurants | Owner's Ontario restaurants gross $3M+ a year | The six materials plus PET bottles |
| Hotels & motels | More than 75 units | The six materials plus PET bottles |
| Others | Schools over 350 students, hospitals, multi-res buildings of 6+ units, large manufacturers, larger construction/demolition projects | Varies by sector |
Most of these duties apply in municipalities of 5,000 people or more. Hospitals, schools and large manufacturers also have waste-audit duties under O. Reg. 102/94. Read the province's guide for the exact list for your sector.
What to do now
- Confirm your status. Ask your municipality whether your property still gets any recycling collection, and check whether O. Reg. 103/94 applies to you.
- Size your bins. Use the bin size calculator for a starting point.
- Get several quotes at once. Private haulers price by route, size and frequency. Comparing at least three is the only way to know what fair looks like — a BinQuotes request does that in one go.
- Label the indoor bins. Clean recycling avoids contamination charges. See indoor stations.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules depend on your sector, size and municipality.
Common questions
Does the Ontario Blue Box still collect from businesses in 2026?
Mostly no. The producer-run program serves eligible sources, mainly residential. Most businesses must arrange private collection. A few institutions, such as schools and non-profit long-term care homes, remain eligible.
Who runs the Blue Box in Ontario now?
Producers of packaging and paper. Circular Materials operates the common collection system, and RPRA is the regulator.
Do small businesses have to recycle in Ontario?
O. Reg. 103/94 sets source-separation duties for larger sites — for example, retail and offices of 10,000 m² or more and restaurant owners with $3M+ in Ontario sales. Smaller businesses may not be legally required, but most still need a recycling hauler now that municipal service has ended.
Sources
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