County clarifies new recycling rules

Recycling Bin-Free Access Unslpash-Sigmound.

By Cecilia Nasmith

The provincial move to Producer Responsibility for recycling programs is now complete, and the County of Northumberland has issued a press release clarifying its effect on local residents – as well as the role of Circular Materials Ontario.

Because the county moved early to adapt to the new system (which has been rolled out over the past three years), there is currently no change to how recycling is collected. The same schedule using the same bins and set-out practices still applies.

But the list of accepted items has expanded.

For your blue box, you can now add styrofoam, rinsed-out coffee pods, toothpaste and beauty-care-product tubes, deodorant sticks, and take-out cups along with the lids.

For your grey box, you can add chip bags, wrappers, stand-up pouches and pet-food bags.

As for the collection of garbage and green-bin composting, the county continues to maintain responsibility.

“This change is largely administrative and is designed to be seamless for residents,” Associate Director of Public Works Operations Adam McCue explained in the press release.

“The key difference is that recycling is now funded and managed through Circular Materials Ontario, while Northumberland County continues to collect garbage and green-bin materials, and support residents locally.”

Jan. 1 marked the completion of the three-year province-wide shift of transitioning responsibility for funding and managing recycling programs from municipalities and First Nations to producers of packaging and paper products, indicating that the result will be the same or improved access to recycling services across the province.

In 2024, when Northumberland made the transition, the county was contracted by Circular Materials Ontario to continue managing curbside collection until the end of 2025 – to coincide with the full provincial roll-out. CMO is a national not-for-profit organization managing the province's new common recycling system on behalf of producers of packaging and paper products. The county continues to work with them to ensure recycling materials are accepted free of charge at Community Recycling Centres.

For questions or concerns about matters related to recycling (including collection, bins and other matters) contact CMO's collection contractor Miller Waste Systems at Area8@millerwaste.ca or 1-888-852-4723.

For questions or concerns about matters related to garbage and green bins (including bag tags, CRCs and other matters), contact the county's Waste Services at 1-866-293-8379.