Blue Box Transition

Blue Box Recycling Changes Now in Effect

You can recycle more than ever before! Starting January 1, 2026, the following materials are eligible to be collected curbside and at drop-off facilities as part of the province’s enhanced recycling system:

Black plastic containers
Hot and cold drink cups, such as takeout coffee cups
Frozen juice containers and ice cream tubs
Deodorant and toothpaste tubes
Bags and wrappers (for example: chip bags, candy wrappers, bubble wrap, food pouches).
Foam packaging (Styrofoam)
Foam plates, bowls, cups and takeout containers
Certain types of hard plastics (for example: laundry detergent jugs)

It’s also important to note some items will NOT be accepted in your curbside blue box, or at drop-off facilities:

Alcoholic beverage containers – return to any participating locations, please see FAQ's below for more information.
Books – consider donating to local libraries, schools, thrift stores or charities.

For the full list of accepted items and more details, visit: https://www.circularmaterials.ca/resident-communities/muskoka-region/

For questions about Recycling:

GFL: for garbage, green bin, or recycling collection questions at 1-855-344-2439 or muskoka@gflenv.com.

Circular Materials (CM): If you have any questions about the blue box transition, please contact Circular Materials by email at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or by phone 1-877-667-2626.

Frequently Asked Questions

The District Municipality of Muskoka is preparing to move forward with Ontario's Blue Box Program. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions to help residents understand the program better.

Who do I contact regarding collection?

Contact GFL for garbage, green bin, or recycling collection questions at 1-855-344-2439 or muskoka@gflenv.com.

Contact Circular Materials for questions regarding the recycling program or collection service at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or 1-877-667-2626.

Alcoholic Beverage Containers

Can I put empty alcoholic beverage containers in my curbside Blue Box?

No. Under Ontario’s producer-led Blue Box system, alcoholic beverage containers are collected separately through the Ontario Deposit Return Program (ODRP) — often called “Bag it Back”.  Alcoholic beverage containers are not intended to be included in curbside recycling, despite having been picked up previously.  

Residents must use the separate collection system for these materials so materials don’t get left behind. More information, including information on where to return empties is available at Ontario Deposit Return Program website and The Beer Store website. 

What kinds of alcohol containers does the ODRP accept?

All LCBO, Wine Rack, Ontario winery stores, Consignment, Private Ordering and distillery beverage alcohol containers - glass, plastic, aluminum cans, Tetra Pak containers, bag-in-box (must bring both the wine box & the empty bag) that carry a deposit, are eligible for a deposit refund when returned.

How much is the deposit refund?

10¢ refund for containers ≤ 630 mL (or cans ≤ 1 L) 20¢ refund for containers > 630 mL (or cans > 1 L)
Refunds apply to eligible alcohol containers purchased in Ontario on or after February 5, 2007.

Where do I return empties in Muskoka?

The Beer Store (TBS), and participating Grocery Stores. This includes products purchased at Grocery Stores, Convenience Stores, and LCBO Convenience Outlets.

Many District waste facilities also have community-run donation programs for alcoholic beverage containers.

Why aren’t alcohol containers collected in Muskoka’s Blue Box anymore?

Ontario’s updated Blue Box regulation standardized residential recycling and explicitly excludes alcoholic beverage containers from curbside and drop-off recycling. These are managed via ODRP to improve recovery and quality. The District transitioned Blue Box responsibilities to Circular Materials in November 2024, with producers fully in charge provincewide as of January 1, 2026.

I put alcohol containers in my Blue Box and they weren’t collected. What should I do?

Please remove them and return through ODRP to avoid missed collection issues and contamination of the Blue Box stream. This is the same clarification provided by other Ontario municipalities post transition.

Can restaurants, bars, and other businesses use ODRP?

Yes. ODRP provides options for licensees, including pickups coordinated by The Beer Store and bulk return locations; third-party haulers can also register to return empties.

Are nonalcoholic drink containers (e.g., pop, water, juice) recyclable in the Blue Box?

Yes. Under the unified, provincewide list, residents can place most consumer packaging and paper products in the Blue Box, including beverage containers for nonalcoholic drinks. New additions in 2026 include items like hot/cold beverage cups, certain flexible plastics, foam packaging, black plastic, and personal care tubes.

Search for items using the Waste Wizard to make sure you know where they go, and ensure your recycling makes it to the right place and out of the District’s one and only landfill.

What about baginbox wine packaging — do I return the bag too?

Yes. For baginbox wine, return both the box and the empty bag to receive the deposit refund.

Is there a limit on returns?

Customers are encouraged to limit returns to 120 containers per visit; larger volumes should go to a Beer Store Bulk Return Location.

How do I prepare alcohol containers for return?

Empty containers; keep materials identifiable (e.g., labels). Baginbox returns require both components. For site specific instructions, check The Beer Store’s ODRP page.

Why is Ontario using deposit return for alcohol?

Deposit return improves recovery, quality, and diversion outcomes for beverage alcohol packaging. Ontario’s ODRP has diverted billions of containers since 2007, complementing the producerled Blue Box for nonalcoholic packaging.

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 Producer Responsibility?

Producer Responsibility means producers – the companies that design, create and market products and packaging – are fully responsible for managing and paying for the life cycle of their products and packaging.

Producer Responsibility looks at the entire life-cycle of a product to ensure effective production and management of packaging to reduce overall waste. This cycle includes:

Producer using recycled materials to manufacture products and market them
Retailer selling the products
Consumer buying and using the products
Producer being responsible to collect, process, recycle and dispose of the packaging and products
Producer using recycled materials to manufacture products and market them

Will the municipality still collect garbage, leaf and yard waste and organics?

Yes, the District Municipality of Muskoka 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.

Relevant Links

Blue Box Regulation

Transition Schedule

Circular Materials