Recycling Changes Coming January 1, 2026
Starting January 1, 2026, Ontario will switch to a new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling system. This means that the companies that make or import products will take full responsibility for collecting, managing, and recycling their packaging materials, rather than the municipality. In other words, the cost and responsibility for recycling will move from municipalities (and taxpayers) to the producers.
This shift was introduced by the Province to make recycling better and more consistent. It also supports a circular economy, where the companies that create packaging are also responsible for what happens to it after use.
Circular Materials is the administrator of this new system, and Emterra will be the contractor collecting the curbside recycling in the City of Stratford.
However, not everyone is included in the new program, such as businesses, places of worship, municipal buildings, and other industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) stops. The City of Stratford will continue to service these locations January 1, 2026, until October 31, 2026.
You can find more information about this program through Circular Materials’ website.
Blue Cart Program
Starting January 1, 2026, under the new EPR program, the City will shift to a cart-based automated collection system for recycling. This is designed to make recycling easier, more efficient, and better for the environment. Under this new system, households will receive 360L wheeled recycling carts. Distribution of these carts will start in late November 2025, but should not be used and placed on the curbside until after December 31, 2025.
These new carts will replace the City’s current open-top boxes and will be compatible with the automated arms used on collection trucks.
Pickup Schedule
The bi-weekly pickup schedule in the City of Stratford will remain the same. However, pick up will start at 7 a.m. Please have your materials on the curbside ready for collection at this time.
Contact Information
Please contact the collection contractor Emterra for questions about:
- missed collection
- replacement carts
- special accommodation requests
- other recycling questions
Phone: 1-888-597-1541
Email: customercareont@emterra.ca
Harmonized List
Starting January 1, 2026, the province will have a single harmonized list of what goes on the curbside no matter your municipality. For City of Stratford residents, you will find more accepted items than ever before, including:
- Coffee cups
- Cartons
- Tetrapaks
- Styrofoam
- Aerosols
For more information about what materials are accepted for recycling and what materials are not accepted, please visit the Circular Materials website or use the Recycle Coach app, which will be updated to reflect the changes that take effect January 1, 2026.
NOTE: Alcohol containers are no longer accepted in the blue cart program through EPR. These items are already managed by producers through locations such as the Beer Store. For more information, please check with your local retailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What do I do with my old blue box? |
|
Your blue box is not recyclable. We encourage residents to reuse their old blue boxes as a storage container (for example to hold some of your household hazardous waste until our next event day). Should your blue box be damaged or unusable, we will accept blue boxes for disposal at the City of Stratford landfill free of charge. |
| Can I still use my Recycle Coach App for recycling information? |
|
Yes. Circular Materials has also partnered with Recycle Coach, so the recycling information will be updated to reflect the new program. You do not need to download a separate App. |
| Will garbage and green bins transition to carts? |
|
Garbage collection and the green bin program will continue to be managed by the City of Stratford. A cart-based system for garbage and green bin was considered in September 2025, but the cost was estimated to be an additional $3.5 million over seven years. City Council decided to keep the current manual collection system in place until 2033. |
| What about business recycling and other commercial, industrial and institutions? |
|
These groups are not eligible for the EPR program. However, the City of Stratford will continue to service those sectors between January 1, 2026, and October 31, 2026. A decision will be made by City Council in the next few months on whether to continue servicing those locations after October 31, 2026. |
| What will happen to the recycling depot located at the City of Stratford landfill site? |
|
The City of Stratford and Circular Materials are working together to continue the recycling depot located at the City of Stratford landfill. This depot is for recycling included in the new EPR program. Recycling generated from sources not included in EPR, such as a business, cannot use the recycling depot. Businesses and other non-eligible sources should use the curbside program, which will continue from January 1, 2026, through October 31, 2026. Please note that this does not apply to the cardboard bin located at the landfill, which can be used by residents and businesses. |