What can go in Plastics and Container Recycling (please rinse)

As per the Circular Materials website:

• Glass containers: clear and coloured glass, food containers, jars, bottles, cosmetic containers, spice bottles, oil, vinegar bottles. Empty, clean, lids & caps off.

• Plastic containers: Laundry detergent, household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles. Empty with lids & caps on.

• Plastic food containers: Food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids. Empty with lids & caps on.

• Paper laminate containers: Spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups. Empty and lids removed.

• Cartons: Dairy and dairy substitute cartons, molasses and sugar cartons, laundry and cleaning cartons, soup and sauce cartons, coffee cartons.Empty, clean & dry, lids & caps on.

• Aluminum (foils and trays): Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays. Rinse & dry. Ball up aluminum foil.

• Metal: Food cans, metal lids, candle, cookie, coffee and tea tins. Rinsed and dry.

• Foam packaging: Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging for products. Empty, clean, remove film wrap and pads from meat trays.

• Flexible plastic packaging: Bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers. Overwrap (paper towel & toilet paper, beverage containers). Coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags. Empty and clean.

• Tubes: Toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes. Empty with lids/caps on.

• Small plastic containers: Small item packaging, hand sanitizer bottles, plant pots. Empty with lids/caps on.

• Aerosol containers: Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant. Empty with lids/caps on.

What does not go in Plastics and Container Recycling

Place these items in your regular garbage (alcohol containers to be returned for refund, where applicable).

• Scrap metal & wire hangers
• Containers that held hazardous products
• Hard Plastics
• Light bulbs
• Ceramics
• Compact fluorescent lights
• Alcoholic beverage containers

Recyclable Materials

As per the Circular Materials website:

• Cardboard Boxes: Pizza boxes, direct mail boxes, moving boxes, shoe boxes. Must be flattened and no larger than 60 x 60 cm (2' x 2').

• Boxboard: Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel. Must be flattened and empty.

• Paper Laminate Packaging: Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates. Must be empty and free from food residue.

• Paper: Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags, notepads, loose paper, file folders, other printed materials, newspapers, flyers, brochures, magazines, greeting cards,envelopes, gift boxes. Must be empty.

• Shredded paper must be in a tied, clear plastic bag.

• Remove elastic bands from items

• Remove any rope from items.

Non-recyclable Materials

Place these items in your regular garbage or green bin if accepted.

• Facial tissues (green bin)
• Soiled paper
• Paper coffee cups (put in plastics/containers recycling)
• Reports with plastic spines
• Waxed cardboard
• Waxed paper
• Fast food drink cups
• Foil wrapping paper / ribbons
• Chocolate bar / candy wrappers
• Soft or hard-covered books/novels

North Grenville is no longer responsible for the Blue Box program. Under the Ontario Government’s Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation shifts responsibility for the Blue Box Program to the organizations that produce products and packaging. Under the old system, communities shared the costs.  

Starting July 1, 2023, communities began transitioning their Blue Box programs to this new extended producer responsibility framework. North Grenville transitioned on October 1, 2023, with the Blue Box program now being managed by Circular Materials.  During the transition period, you won’t notice any difference to your pick-up schedule or the materials you can recycle. What’s changing is who is responsible for funding and operating the recycling system.

Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building efficient and effective recycling systems where materials are collected, recycled and returned to producers for use as recycled content. Circular Materials is committed to increasing recycling rates across Ontario and ensuring more materials are looped into the circular economy, benefiting both people and the environment. Learn more at www.circularmaterials.ca/ON, or on our dedicated community page www.circularmaterials.ca/northgrenville.

Taxpayers are not paying for the majority of the Blue Box program as the producers of the materials are responsible to collect from residential and other select sources. Council did approve the collection from identified businesses which the Municipality is paying for through taxation until 2026. 

The Municipality does receive money to collect Blue Box materials at its Oxford Mills Transfer Station and is working on an agreement to receive funding towards the waste guides.

The producers of the recyclable materials are responsible for the operation of the Blue Box program which includes its funding. Circular Materials is managing the program and has contracted Emterra to collect in North Grenville.

As the Municipality is no longer responsible for the operation of the program there is no provincial funding. 

Garbage and green bin collection remains the responsibility of the Municipality, who has contracted Emterra: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1-888-597-1541.

A blue box must be used for recycling collection. To purchase one, please contact Emterra Environmental at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1-888-597-1541 or purchase at your local hardware store.

If your recycling has not been picked up, these are the most common reasons why:

• boxboard/cardboard not properly set out (i.e. loose, not bundled, not flattened or too large)
• Incorrect recyclables (i.e. fibre on a container day)
• Non recyclables placed in blue box
• Recyclables hidden behind snowbank or parked vehicle
• Recyclables are frozen in a snowbank
• Not set out before 7:00 am

Avoid over-filling your blue box as it results in recyclables littering the roadway. Use multiple blue boxes. Clear blue plastic bags are acceptable for plastics and containers.