SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): Ontario will complete its three-year transition to an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for packaging and paper recycling on January 1, 2026, finalizing a major transformation of the province’s Blue Box program.

The updated Blue Box program is administered by Circular Materials, the not-for-profit Common Collection System administrator, working alongside Ryse Solutions, Landbell Canada, and EnvironFocus Incorporated. The system introduces a standardized, province-wide approach that allows residents to recycle a broader and more consistent range of materials, regardless of location.

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According to Circular Materials CEO Allen Langdon, the new model is designed to simplify recycling, improve recovery rates, and support the growth of a circular economy across Ontario.

The Blue Box regulation, introduced in June 2021, formally shifted operational and financial responsibility to producers. The EPR model is widely recognized as a data-driven approach that strengthens accountability, drives packaging innovation, and improves recycling performance.

The transition began in July 2023. By January 1, 2026, all 383 communities and 12 First Nations in Ontario will be fully integrated into the EPR-based Blue Box system.