Changes to Recycling Collection for Businesses and Institutions
Starting January 1, 2026, recycling collection in Simcoe County will be managed by Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization appointed by producers under Ontario’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.
Under the Provincial legislation, recycling collection is not included from Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I) properties. This includes:
- Small businesses
- Churches and places of worship
- Municipal buildings
- Food banks
- Most not-for-profit organizations
What Businesses Need to Know
- Recycling carts placed at the curb after January 1, 2026 will likely not be collected.
- Businesses may request cart removal by contacting the County after January 1.
- Garbage and organics collection will continue as usual for small IC&I locations as the County continues to manage and provide these services.
- Recycling must not be placed in the garbage.
- Businesses may continue to drop off recycling at County waste facilities, subject to a fee, to cover transfer, haulage, and processing costs.
- A tipping fee of $200 per tonne with a $10 minimum charge will be in effect as of January 1, 2026.
County Advocacy and Provincial Response
The County of Simcoe, along with many other municipalities, strongly lobbied the Provincial Government to allow continued curbside recycling collection for small IC&I locations. These locations often generate waste in quantities similar to residential households and could be serviced using the same collection vehicles with only a 1.4% increase in serviced units.
We were hopeful collective feedback was heard. However, on October 1, 2025, the County was notified by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks that Circular Materials (the PRO) would not be able to fulfill this direction, and the Province would not proceed with further regulatory changes.. This means recycling collection for small IC&I locations will end as of January 1, 2026.
The Minister of Environment’s Letter can be viewed here for full details and background on this decision by the Ontario Government.
The Provincial Government has passed legislation making producers fully responsible for the lifecycle costs of recyclable materials (e.g., paper and plastic packaging). A Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) will manage a new recycling system starting January 1, 2026.
Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I) properties will no longer receive curbside recycling collection. This includes:
- Small businesses
- Churches and places of worship
- Municipal buildings
- Food banks
- Most not-for-profits
- Daycares
- Campgrounds without permanent households
Yes. The County will continue to collect garbage and organics from small IC&I locations as usual.
- Self-haul recycling to County waste facilities (a tipping fee of $200 per tonne with a $10 minimum charge is now in effect).
- Private recycling collection services.
- Cart removal can be requested from the County after January 1, 2026.
Recycling carts placed at the curb by non-residential properties such as a small business after this date will likely not be collected by Emterra trucks.
No. Recycling must not be placed in the garbage stream.
The County of Simcoe, along with other municipalities, lobbied for the Province to allow continued recycling collection for small businesses and organizations. The Province asked Circular Materials to explore how recycling could continue for small IC&I services through potential agreements with municipalities. On October 1, 2025, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed that Circular Materials would not be able to fulfill this direction, and the Province would not proceed with further regulatory changes.
The Minister of Environment’s Letter can be viewed here for full details and background on this decision by the Ontario Government.
In November, County Council approved tipping fee increases which included $200 per tonne for recycling with a $10 minimum charge. This will be effective as of January 1, 2026.
For more information on rates and drop-off locations, please click here.
This change is due to the County no longer receiving funding for recycling collection at our waste facilities. As a result, the County must now cover the costs of hauling and processing this material. The fee will apply to all residents who currently receive curbside recycling collection services, as well as to ‘non-eligible’ sources under the regulation, which include all industrial, commercial and institutional properties.
In accordance with Council’s decision, the fee will be implemented on January 1, 2026.