As of January 1, 2026, Ontario’s Blue Box system moved to a province-wide approach where the recycling rules are meant to be consistent across communities. The practical change for most households is simple: more everyday packaging is now accepted—especially items people used to throw out because their city didn’t take them.If you’re trying to figure out the new items added to recycling, start with these five that Ontario’s program operator keeps highlighting: coffee cups, deodorant and toothpaste tubes, black plastic containers, frozen juice containers, and ice cream tubs.
New items added to recycling in Ontario in 2026
Ontario’s updated list isn’t just “a few extras.” It’s a wider packaging net. Here’s the fastest way to understand what changed.
| Item type | Examples you’ll recognize | Quick prep |
|---|---|---|
| Beverage cups | Takeout coffee cups (hot or cold) | Empty it; remove lids when required |
| Personal care packaging | Toothpaste tubes, deodorant tubes | Empty; cap/lid rules vary by container type |
| Black plastic | Black takeout-style containers | Empty and reasonably clean |
| Tubs + specialty containers | Ice cream tubs, frozen juice containers | Empty; quick rinse if messy |
The bigger change that’s easy to miss: flexible plastics and foam
A lot of the confusion in Ontario recycling comes from “flexible” packaging—wrappers and bags that used to be a hard no in many cities. Several Ontario municipalities are now messaging residents that plastic bags and wrappers can go in the recycling stream under the enhanced system, along with foam packaging.
That includes things like:
- Bags and wrappers: chip bags, candy wrappers, bread/milk bags, cling wrap, bubble wrap, food pouches, and other film-style packaging.
- Foam packaging: foam trays and protective foam packaging (the kind that cushions electronics).
- Small packaging types: blister packs used for pills or small consumer items.
Different cities describe this in different words—some say “all packaging,” others list examples—but the direction is the same: more packaging formats are now in-scope.
What didn’t change: the stuff that still causes “wish-cycling”
Even with the expanded list, some items are still clearly out. The province-wide guidance also calls out a few common mistakes:
- Books/novels (soft or hard cover) don’t belong in Blue Box recycling.
- Alcoholic beverage containers are handled through return programs instead of curbside recycling.
- Non-packaging household items (toys, dishes/ceramics, pots and pans) still aren’t “Blue Box material,” even if they’re plastic or metal.
If it’s a product meant to be used again and again (toy, kitchen item, hanger, etc.), it’s usually not part of packaging recycling.
What’s changing behind the scenes (and why pickup might feel different)
This isn’t just a new “what goes where” poster. Ontario’s Blue Box program is now run under extended producer responsibility (EPR), meaning the organizations that supply packaging and paper are responsible for funding and operating recycling.
In real life, that shows up as:
- New program operators and contractors handling collection and customer service instead of the municipality in some places.
- Different trucks or pickup timing even if your collection day stays the same.
For example, Ottawa’s 2026 recycling guide lists Miller Waste as the contact for collection issues under the new system.
How to avoid the #1 problem with expanded recycling: contamination
When rules expand, people get optimistic—and that’s when loads get rejected.
Two habits prevent most problems:
- Empty and lightly rinse anything that had food or liquid. It doesn’t need to be spotless; it needs to be “not gross.”
- Don’t bundle recyclables inside random bags unless your city explicitly tells you to. Keep things loose so they can be sorted.
If you only remember one rule: clean enough that you’d be fine picking it up again.
If you’re new to Ontario, the fastest way to avoid small daily mistakes is using the right apps—first for waste lookups, and also for navigating public transit in Ontario.
Great news. Thank you!
It s high time coming, finally making sense by making establishment pay there fair share for disposable items.Next would be to scale down the high numbers of employees in the environment government agencies.It is absurd the amount of people doing next to nothing in that department costing tax payers enormous of money for what I see as shelter loafers.
Thank you! I had a hard time finding this news through other sites.