Residents in Whitchurch-Stouffville are navigating changes to their blue box recycling program in 2026, as the service has officially moved from town management to a provincial system overseen by producers. The shift, which took effect on January 1, 2026, aims to have companies that produce packaging and paper products fund and operate residential recycling across Ontario.
As part of this transition, the town is no longer responsible for blue box collection. Instead, GFL Environmental now handles curbside pickup under a contract with Circular Materials, a non-profit organization that manages the provincial program. This new system, known as Extended Producer Responsibility, is intended to save municipalities across the province an estimated $200 million annually by removing recycling costs from local budgets.
Residents have moved to a bi-weekly collection schedule that uses large, 360-litre wheeled, lidded carts, which were delivered to households in December 2025. Following concerns raised by the N6 mayors—a group representing Whitchurch-Stouffville, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, and Newmarket—about the size of these bins, a smaller 240-litre option was made available. An exchange program for those preferring the smaller cart began in March 2026 and is set to continue for approximately six weeks.
Under the updated provincial rules, curbside recycling service is no longer provided to industrial, commercial, and institutional properties. This includes local businesses, schools, places of worship, and non-profit organizations, which must now make their own arrangements for recycling.
For any questions regarding cart exchanges or the current collection schedule, residents are encouraged to contact GFL at 1-833-779-4351 or via email at [email protected]. The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville remains available for inquiries at 905-640-1900 and continues to manage other waste services, including garbage, green bins, and yard waste.
