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Extended Producer Responsibility

Blue Box Transition to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Recycling

A regulation from the Province of Ontario has changed the way municipalities provide recycling programs to their residents. The new program makes producers of products and packaging responsible for recycling the materials they supply. This new approach is called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling.

By making the producer responsible, the new program supports a circular economy, and reduces operational and financial responsibilities for municipalities. The City of Kawartha Lakes started transitioning to Extended Producer Responsibility recycling on April 1, 2024.

Check out Circular Materials, the administrator of Ontario’s new EPR common collection system, website to learn more about the transition. 

What is EPR? Watch the video to learn more!

 

A transcript for the video is available here:
Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is a policy approach in which producers – the businesses that supply packaging and paper to residents – are responsible for the end-of-life management of their materials.

That means contributing financially to, and in some cases, operating the recycling system.

EPR starts with environmental legislation, obligating producers to take responsibility for their materials straight through to end of life. Recovery and recycling targets are set and reporting requirements are defined.
This helps shift material from the waste stream into the recycling system.

To fulfill these legal obligations, many producers join a Producer Responsibility Organization, or P-R-O, who administer an EPR program on their behalf.

Producers pay fees to a P-R-O and the P-R-O uses the fee revenue to support the collection, sorting and recycling of material.

In some EPR models, a single jurisdiction is managed as a whole – with a consistent material list and an integrated material management supply chain. This creates greater scale and efficiency.

Residents are informed what is accepted and how to recycle it through promotion and education.

Material is then collected from residents’ homes or depots in partnership with local governments or private waste management companies.

Material is then brought to a material recovery facility, to be weighed…sorted… and baled by specific material type, such as the kind of paper or plastic resin.

Because of the potential scale of the system, EPR can facilitate investment in infrastructure and advanced sorting technologies, resulting in better quality materials and more of the material ultimately being recycled.

The goal is to create a circular economy for material by selling it to verified end markets to be made into new products.

Throughout this process, the amount and type of material is tracked, weighed and recorded so performance requirements are fulfilled and results can be verified and improved.

In the end, the P-R-O ensures that producers meet their regulatory obligations, and verify their performance targets.

The material enters back into the market, contributing to a circular economy. 

 
How are Residents Affected

For 2025, collection schedules and the list of acceptable materials will stay the same.

Starting January 1, 2026, Circular Materials will fully manage Ontario's Blue Box program, and any program changes will be made at their discretion.

I currently receive curbside Blue Box Recycling

During the transition period from April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025 collection dates and the list of acceptable recyclable material will remain the same.

Starting January 1, 2026, when Circular Materials takes full responsibility for recycling matters in Kawartha Lakes, there may be changes to the program.

During the transition period from Nov. 19, 2024 - Dec. 31, 2025 collection dates and the list of acceptable recyclable material will remain the same.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, when CM takes full responsibility for recycling matters in Muskoka, there may be changes to the program.
How are Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional Business Owner's Affected?

Starting January 1, 2026:

Industrial, commercial, or institutional (ICI) businesses no longer qualify for participation in the curbside recycling program. This means recycling/blue box collection services for these businesses will be discontinued.

Frequently Asked Questions

The City of Kawartha Lakes has moved forward with Ontario's Blue Box Program. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions to help residents and businesses understand the program better.

Who do I contact about recycling collection?

Please contact Miller Waste directly for recycling inquiries related to missed pick ups, bin replacements, or general recycling questions:

Please contact Circular Materials for general transition inquiries or if you have any issues with Miller Waste’s recycling services:
Who is Circular Materials?

Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit organization that helps producers meet their obligations under extended producer responsibility regulations, like Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation. They are working with producer partners to ensure Ontario’s recycling system is efficient and effective, making sure materials are reused again and again.

More information on Circular Materials is available at www.circularmaterials.ca/provincial-programs/recycling-in-ontario

What is considered an Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional (ICI) property?

An Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional (ICI) property is any property not designated as residential according to Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) codes. However, under the new regulation, elementary and secondary schools, as well as non-profit long-term care facilities will continue to be eligible for recycling services.

ICI properties that are not eligible for the blue box collection and recycling service provided by producers include, but are not limited to the following:

  • All private sector businesses (including Downtown core businesses)
  • Place of worship
  • Daycares
  • Campgrounds (without households)
  • Public facing and internal areas of municipal buildings/facilities (e.g., libraries, arenas)
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Commercial farms
I own/manage an apartment building; will this change impact my collection services?
Blue Box materials from the residential portion of a mixed-use property will be collected on the designated residential collection day. Apartment buildings that are currently receiving curbside collection will continue to receive curbside recycling collection through Circular Materials.

How does this affect my business?

Garbage collection services will continue to be provided to all ICI properties currently participating in the curbside program however, starting on January 1, 2026, in accordance with the waste By-Law 2024-235, the existing curbside recycling collection service will end for all ICI properties. If you are impacted by these changes you should receive a letter from the City.

We appreciate your commitment to environmental stewardship and encourage you to continue to recycle materials and divert from the waste stream. As per our By-Law 2024-235 waste will require to be sorted with less than 10% recycling contamination in waste placed at the curb.

The City is actively exploring options to support businesses as the ICI properties will need to arrange for private recycling collection services. Currently the City is exploring the potential for collaborating with adjacent municipalities through a joint procurement process for the collection and processing of non-eligible blue box materials.
Why are ICI properties considered ineligible by the Province?

Waste collection (i.e., waste and recycling) from ICI locations has never been mandated for municipalities in Ontario. When it made economic sense, this service was an added value to further support our communities. However, under the new regulations, ICI properties are not considered eligible for recycling services, and without the economies of scale afforded by the residential curbside program it is no longer feasible for the municipality to support.
What are my options for disposing of the recycling generated from my business starting January 1, 2026?

Non-eligible properties can choose to contract a private contractor to collect the recycling. The properties’ occupants, owners, or managers can make private arrangements to collect and process their recycling. There are service providers and local businesses that have been preparing for this transition and are ready to offer their services.

We are actively exploring options for businesses so we encourage you to participate in our survey to express your interest in joint procurement opportunities or your preference to find your own service provider.
How is the City of Kawartha Lakes helping businesses during this transition?

The City of Kawartha Lakes acknowledges the concerns regarding the exclusion of ICI Blue Box materials from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model. Here is how the City of Kawartha Lakes is assisting with the transition:

  • Advocacy and Support: The City sent a letter (January 6, 2025) to Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to advocate for solutions for managing ICI sector materials. Requesting that amendments be made to Ontario Regulation 391/21: Blue Box to make producers responsible for the end-of-life management of recycling products from all sources.
  • Council carried a resolution CR2025-023 that staff continue to explore alternatives to support the provision of services such as a joint procurement with adjacent municipalities and municipal support for a private procurement process.
  • Staff have created a survey to gather information from businesses to determine how the City can support business in this transition.
Who do I contact at the provincial level to advocate against this change?
You can always connect with your local MPP. If you are part of an industry organization, ask your board of directors for support by writing to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Will the municipality still collect garbage, leaf and yard waste, and organics?

Yes, the municipality will continue to provide curbside collection of garbage, leaf and yard waste, and organics to areas that currently receive these services. The collection schedule will remain the same.
Why are we transitioning to the Blue Box Program

The Ontario Government has made legislated changes to the Blue Box Regulation to expand participation in recycling programs by providing clearer and more comprehensive recycling guidelines across the province. This regulation promotes a more circular economy, where materials are collected, recycled, and reused to create new products and packaging. These changes aim to reduce overall waste, divert waste from landfills, and mitigate impacts on the environment.
What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a system where producers of Blue Box material, like Coca-Cola, Amazon, Walmart, etc., are responsible for the entire lifecycle of material that they produce. Currently, municipalities cover half of the cost of collection and processing of recyclable materials. Under EPR, producers are logistically and financially accountable for their product packaging from production to disposal, helping to reduce waste and promote recycling.
What is a circular economy?

A circular economy is an approach that shifts away from the traditional make-use-dispose model towards a system that promotes recycling and reuse. It aims to extend the lifecycle of a products, minimize the use of raw materials, maximize the lifespan of materials and resources, and reduce waste and packaging. This system helps create a sustainable cycle where materials are continuously reused and repurposed, reducing environmental impact.
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