In Collingwood, Ont., residents and local businesses will face new waste service rates starting January 1, 2026 under Simcoe County’s overhaul of recycling and garbage collection, a change expected to increase costs for households and local groups.
According to County of Simcoe notices, the tipping fee for recycling drop-offs at County waste sites will be $200 per tonne with a $10 minimum charge, effective January 1, 2026. Residential curbside recycling pickup will continue under Circular Materials, the province-designated producer-funded operator, but small businesses, charities and places of worship in Collingwood will no longer be eligible for curbside recycling under the new provincial framework. Those groups must now hire private haulers, request cart removal, or self-haul recyclables to County waste facilities and pay the new fees.
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin warned that downtown businesses could face added costs and staff time. “If we’re going to have to hire staff to look after their bins, the county should be paying for it,” she said in remarks about downtown bin enforcement. Advocacy groups such as Rescue Lake Simcoe called the exclusion “an unnecessary setback” for local waste diversion, and local food bank representatives have said the change could strain already tight budgets.
Simcoe County’s budget documents and officials say the transition and related revenue changes amount to roughly a $17-million impact for 2026. County council approved a 3.5 per cent increase on the county portion of property taxes as part of the 2026 budget; the budget papers identify a $4.2-million shortfall linked to the blue box transition among other pressures. Since the Collingwood landfill closed in 2023, the town’s waste has been hauled to incineration facilities in Brampton under county arrangements, which has increased hauling costs for the region.
Residents can view collection schedules and the 2026 calendar on the County website and in the Simcoe County Collects app. County officials say they will monitor the transition and address any service issues early in 2026.
