Blue Box Recycling

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Trail in the forest

Every two weeks, you can place one or more ‘Blue Boxes’ of recycling at the curbside alongside garbage bags for collection. Blue boxes can be purchased from the Township offices in Springmount for $14.00.

The following items can be placed in a Blue Box:

Glass bottles and jars that were used for foods. Please remove lids and rinse clean containers.
Aluminum and steel cans. Please rinse before recycling.
Plastics. A wide array of clear plastics can be recycled. Black plastic (such as in some take out food containers) cannot be recycled. Check for the Plastic Type for recycling. Numbers 1, 2,3,4,5 and 7 can be placed in the Blue Box.
Paint Cans. These must be completely empty with lids removed.
Newspaper and Paper. These can be placed in a Blue Box, or bundled next to, or placed in a paper bags alongside the Blue Box.
Cardboard. Placed in a Blue Box, or bundled in bundles no more than 24” x 18” x 6”.
Boxes. Please remove any plastic or polystyrene and flatten.

Things you cannot put in your Blue Box.

No film plastics like shrink wrap or cling film.
No scrap metal such a tire rims, copper pipe etc.
Glass from drinking glasses, mirrors, windows, light bulbs etc.
Bulky plastics such as buckets, toys, motor oil jugs, salt bags, etc.
Batteries
Aerosols
Coat Hangers
Paint cans with residue in them
Paper products such as used tissues, wax paper, wrapping paper.

For more information, please visit the Recycle Right webpage.

Changes Coming to the Blue Box Program

The Blue Box program is evolving in Ontario! As part of the commitment to increase recycling rates from the current 30% - 40% to at least 60% - 90%, the Blue Box program will be changing to make the producers of materials responsible for their collection and processing. This will help reduce the amount of materials going to landfill and increase the amount of recycling that occurs.

By January, 2026, all Blue Box programs will no longer be run by local municipalities but will be being managed and collected by a non-profit company called Circular Materials Ontario, CMO. CMO will be responsible for collecting Blue Box materials from residences across Ontario.

Starting in 2023, communities will start to transition to this new Blue Box system. The Township of Georgian Bluffs will be transitioning starting in October 2023.

What will change for me?

To start with, nothing. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, the Township will continue to provide curbside recycling services as it does currently, under contract with Waste Management Services. Residents will continue to see the same items collected in Blue Boxes and will see these collected from the curbside every two weeks. The Township will receive a payment from CMO for continuing to provide this service.

In January, 2026, CMO will assume responsibility for delivering this service to residents. Between 2023 and 2026, CMO will work with the Township to make sure residents are aware of any changes to their services.