Blue Box

• Plastic containers:
  • Laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles, plastic beverage bottles
  • Food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids
  • Toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes
  • Small item packaging, hand sanitizer bottles, plant pots
• Cartons:
  • Beverage cartons, juice and milk cartons, coffee creamers and sugar cartons, soup and sauce cartons
• Paper laminate containers:
  • Spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups
• Foam packaging:
  • Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging
• Metal:
  • Food cans, metal lids, cookie, coffee and tea tins, beverage cans
• Aluminum:
  • Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays
• Aerosol containers:
  • Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant
• Glass containers:
  • Food containers, jars and bottles
  • Cosmetic containers
  • Spice bottles
  • Oil and vinegar bottles
  • Non-alcoholic glass beverage containers

• Cardboard boxes - flatten and bundle, no larger than 60 x 60 centimetres(24 inches)
• Boxboard:
  • Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel
• Paper:
  • Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags
  • Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed material
  • Community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines
  • Greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes
• Paper laminate packaging:
  • Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates
• Flexible plastic packaging:
  • Bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspaper and flyers
  • Overwrap (paper towel and toilet paper, beverage containers)
  • Coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags

• Books
• Toys
• Diapers
• Pots and pans
• Hazardous materials
• Batteries

In June 2021, the Province of Ontario released Regulation 391/21 Blue Box (Regulation 391/21) under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which shifts the financial and operational responsibility of Blue Box recycling from municipalities to the organizations that produce or import packaging, paper and packaging like products. The transition under the Regulation is being phased in over three years and will take full effect on January 1, 2026, province wide. Durham Region transitioned its Blue Box program on July 1, 2024.

Blue Box Regulation 391/21 designates eligible sources as residences and facilities exclusively. Facilities, as defined by the regulation, include residential-type buildings such as long-term care homes, not-for-profit retirement homes, multi-residential buildings, and schools. Commercial and industrial establishments, including small businesses, are not covered under this regulation.

Blue Box collection previously provided to small businesses, including those located in Designated Business Areas will be discontinued.

Blue Box collection previously provided to small businesses, including to those located in Designated Business Areas will end on December 31, 2025.

Durham Businesses can bring their Blue Box recyclables to any Regional Waste Management Facility at no cost. This applies to dedicated loads of recyclable materials only, not mixed loads also containing chargeable materials. A list of facility locations is available at durham.ca/WMF.

Approximately 2,800 small businesses in Designated Business Areas throughout the Region and approximately 200 additional small businesses that are not formally included in Designated Business Areas are impacted.

Small businesses must arrange for private recycling collection services by partnering with waste management companies that specialize in recycling services.

Under By-law 2024-009, owners and occupants must not set out garbage that includes Blue Box materials for collection.

Municipal garbage, green bin, and leaf and yard waste collection will remain unchanged.

Residents living above businesses, including those in local Designated Business Areas will continue to receive Blue Box recycling collection services from Circular Materials.