On January 26, 2026, the Town of Espanola in Ontario issued a reminder for residents to follow the 2026 Recycling Guide to avoid missed pickups during the winter season. Town officials want to ensure that households are aware of new rules regarding where to place bins and which items are now accepted in the Blue Box.
To keep the service running smoothly, residents are asked to place their recycling at ground level by 7:00 a.m. on their assigned Friday. The Town of Espanola Public Works and the town’s waste contractor, GFL Environmental (listed as Green for Life on the municipal site), say bins placed on top of high snowbanks will not be picked up because they are unsafe for workers to reach. Instead, people should clear a one-metre (3-foot) path at the edge of the driveway so collectors can easily access the containers.
The update also highlights changes from the province-wide program managed by Circular Materials. Under the new provincial rules, residents can now recycle more items than before, including coffee cups, plastic film, and certain foam packaging. Following these guidelines helps prevent contamination and ensures that more materials are processed correctly.
Officials also suggest waiting until the morning of collection to set out bins to prevent bags from freezing to the ground or getting buried by snowplows overnight. Residents should continue to separate their recycling into alternating weeks for paper/cardboard one week and containers (plastic or metal) the next, as outlined in the local guide.
