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If you are a resident of Oshawa or Whitby, please visit their websites for waste collection information.
House collection
Blue box
The Blue Box program in Ontario is managed by Circular Materials. For new and replacement bins, missed collection and other recycling questions, please reach out to Circular Materials' local recycling contractor:
Food cans, metal lids, cookie, coffee and tea tins, beverage cans
Aluminum:
Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays
Aerosol containers:
Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant
Glass containers:
Food containers, jars and bottles
Cosmetic containers
Spice bottles
Oil and vinegar bottles
Non-alcoholic glass beverage containers
Papers blue box - accepted materials
Cardboard boxes - flatten and bundle, no larger than 60 x 60 centimetres(24 inches)
Boxboard:
Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel
Paper:
Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags
Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed material
Community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines
Greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes
Paper laminate packaging:
Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates
Spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups
Cartons:
Beverage cartons, juice and milk cartons, coffee creamers and sugar cartons, soup and sauce cartons
Unacceptable materials
Books
Toys
Diapers
Pots and pans
Hazardous materials
Batteries
Important changes to curbside Blue Box collection for small businesses
The Region will waive fees for existing small business customers dropping off Blue Box materials in dedicated loads at Regional Waste Management Facilities for the month of January. This measure is in place while Regional Council considers the 2026 budget request to permanently waive fees for Blue Box recycling. Regional Council will make a final decision on the budget at its January meeting.
As of January 1, 2026, Blue Box recycling collection previously provided to small business customers, including those located in local Designated Business Areas will be discontinued.
On July 1, 2024, the Regional Municipality of Durham transitioned the responsibility of Blue Box recycling collection to Circular Materials, an organization that represents the producers and importers of the products and packaging collected in the blue box. The transition to producer responsibility is a requirement of the new Blue Box legislation enacted by the province in 2021. Durham Region negotiated with Circular Materials and its local recycling contractors to continue service to existing small business customers, including those located in the local Designated Business Areas until December 31, 2025. As of January 1, 2026, Circular Materials will provide no option to include small business customers in its residential collection routes, and recycling service will be discontinued to these businesses. All municipal garbage, green bin and leaf and yard waste collection services will continue unaffected.
Frequently asked questions
Why is this being implemented?
In June 2021, the Province of Ontario released Regulation 391/21 Blue Box (Regulation 391/21) under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which shifts the financial and operational responsibility of Blue Box recycling from municipalities to the organizations that produce or import packaging, paper and packaging like products. The transition under the Regulation is being phased in over three years and will take full effect on January 1, 2026, province wide. Durham Region transitioned its Blue Box program on July 1, 2024. Blue Box Regulation 391/21 designates eligible sources as residences and facilities exclusively. Facilities, as defined by the regulation, include residential-type buildings such as long-term care homes, not-for-profit retirement homes, multi-residential buildings, and schools. Commercial and industrial establishments, including small businesses, are not covered under this regulation.
What does this mean for Durham Region businesses?
Blue Box collection previously provided to small businesses, including those located in Designated Business Areas will be discontinued.
When is the scheduled end date for Blue Box collection in Designated Business Areas?
Blue Box collection previously provided to small businesses, including to those located in Designated Business Areas will end on December 31, 2025.
Is Blue Box material accepted at Regional Waste Management Facilities?
The Region will waive fees for existing small business customers dropping off Blue Box materials in dedicated loads at Regional Waste Management Facilities for the month of January 2026.
Yes, Blue Box material is accepted for recycling at any Regional Waste Management Facility. Fees apply.
What is the estimated number of businesses affected by these changes?
Approximately 2,800 small businesses in Designated Business Areas throughout the Region and approximately 200 additional small businesses that are not formally included in Designated Business Areas are impacted.
How can small businesses arrange for recycling collection services after December 31, 2025.
Small businesses must arrange for private recycling collection services by partnering with waste management companies that specialize in recycling services.
What are the consequences if small businesses fail to secure private Blue Box collection?
Under By-law 2024-009, owners and occupants must not set out garbage that includes Blue Box materials for collection.
Will the changes to the Blue Box program impact garbage, organics, and leaf and yard waste collection?
Municipal garbage, green bin, and leaf and yard waste collection will remain unchanged.
Will Blue Box recycling collection still be provided for residents living above businesses?
Residents living above businesses, including those in local Designated Business Areas will continue to receive Blue Box recycling collection services from Circular Materials.
Green bin
More materials are now accepted in the Region’s Green Bin Program. Reduce your garbage and send these items for weekly collection in your Green Bin.
You can buy garbage bag tags for garbage bags or cans over the four-bag limit. Tags are $2.50 each (sold in sheets of 5 tags for $12.50).
For your convenience the Region is now offering contactless options for purchasing bag tags. Bag tags may be purchase online or by calling the Region at 311 (within Regional limits) or 905-668-7711 (toll-free 1-800-372-1102).
Requests are processed and mailed within 2 business days. Please plan ahead. The Region is not responsible for any postal delays.
In person purchases of tags can also be made at the following locations.
Ajax
Ajax Town Hall 65 Harwood Avenue South, Ajax 905-683-4550
Operations and Environmental Services 800 Salem Road North, Ajax 905-683-2951
Ajax Community Centre 75 Centennial Road, Ajax 905-427-8811
McLean Community Centre 95 Magill Drive, Ajax 905-428-7711
Audley Recreation Centre 1955 Audley Road, Ajax 905-427-2468
Ajax Public Library 55 Harwood Avenue, Ajax 905-683-4000
Brock
Township of Brock Municipal Office 1 Cameron Street East, Cannington 705-432-2355
Special consideration for garbage bag limits program
We make special considerations for residents with a medical condition or households with three children under the age of three years old. If you have any questions, call us at 311 (within Regional limits) or 905-668-7711 (toll-free 1-800-372-1102).
Please be advised that the Region of Durham only collects home healthcare waste from properties deemed residential by Durham Region. All products must be rinsed, cleaned and should also be double bagged for curbside collection.
Approved collection containers
Garbage cans:
Garbage cans must hold less than 125 litres (30 gallons).
Maximum can size: Height 95 centimetres (38 inches), and width 60 centimetres (24 inches). Cans must have two handles, and any lids must be removable.
The weight of the garbage can and its contents must not exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
Residents living in Oshawa and Whitby must use garbage bags. Garbage cans are not acceptable in these areas.
Garbage bags:
Maximum garbage bag size: 66 centimetres (26 inches) by 90 centimetres (36 inches) when empty.
The weight of the garbage bag and its contents must not exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
Residents who set out their waste in oversized garbage cans or bags will not have their garbage collected.
Accepted materials
Broken toys
Cigarette butts and ashes (cold)
Coat hangers
Coffee pods
Cork
Crayons, pens, pencils and markers
Disposable cutlery
Furnace filters
Gum
Hoses
Personal care items
Ribbons, bows and metallic gift wrap
Single-use masks and gloves
Tape
Wipes, mop and dryer sheets
Zip ties
Yard waste and Christmas tree collection
Yard waste is collected from April to early December. Christmas tree collection is in January.
Rules
Only use paper yard waste bags or clearly labelled, returnable open-top containers. We do not pick up yard waste in cardboard boxes, blue boxes, green bins or plastic bags.
If you are using a reusable open-top container, you should drill holes in the bottom of the container for drainage.
Yard waste cannot weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds).
Securely tie brush in bundles up to one metre (three feet) long and 76 centimetres (30 inches) wide. No branch should be more than 10 centimetres (4 inches) in diameters.
Place your tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day.
All tinsel, decorations, wire, lights, and stands must be removed.
Trees exceeding three metres (10 feet) must be cut in half for collection.
Ensure Christmas trees do not freeze or get stuck in snow banks. We do not collect trees buried in snow banks.
Christmas trees set out in plastic bags will not be collected.
Furniture and large items
Select your area to see what services we offer.
Ajax and Pickering
Furniture and large items pickup is on your regular biweekly garbage collection day. You do not need to make an appointment. We collect up to two items per pickup. Please see accepted bulky materials below. Metal goods, electronics and porcelain require appointments.
Note: A separate truck will pickup large items. This material is not collected at the same time as your garbage bags.
Brock, Clarington, Scugog and Uxbridge
We only pick up furniture and large items by appointment. We take up to two items per collection. Please see accepted bulky materials below.
Call us at 311 (within Regional limits) or 905-668-7711 (toll-free 1-800-372-1102).
Oshawa
The City of Oshawa picks up furniture and other large items. Call them at 905-436-3311 to learn more. The Region of Durham does not pick up these items for Oshawa.
Whitby
The Town of Whitby picks up furniture and large items. Call them at 905-668-3437 to learn more. The Region of Durham does not pick up these items for Whitby.
Rules
Your furniture or large items must be at the curb by 7 a.m. on your pickup day.
We will take up to two items per collection.
We do not pick up unacceptable items. We will tag them with an explanatory notice.
Remove unacceptable items from the curb.
You do not need bag tags for furniture and large items.
Accepted bulky materials
Artificial Christmas trees
Beanbag chairs
Chairs and recliners
Coffee tables
Couches, loveseats and sectional sofas
Cribs
Desks
Dressers
End tables
Entertainment units
Garden hoses
Headboards
Luggage
Mattress and box springs
Ottomans
Patio umbrellas
Sports equipment
Vacuums
Wooden chests
Metal goods
Select your area to see what services we offer.
Ajax and Pickering
We only pick up metal goods by appointment. Please see accepted metal goods below.
RPRA's 'Where to Recycle' map display locations across Ontario where you can drop off used materials to be recycled, such as batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste, lighting and tires. Find locations near you.
Batteries
We pick up batteries at the curb twice a year in the spring and fall. Place sealed battery bag on top of your Green Bin on your designated battery recycling day.
Lithium batteries can be crushed in garbage trucks and cause fires.
Batteries can overheat if left outdoors.
Store batteries in a plastic or cardboard box container, not metal (metal can conduct electricity).
Store batteries in a cool dry place. Keep away from heat, sunlight and moisture. High temperatures can cause batteries (especially lithium-ion) to swell, leak or ignite.
Damaged lithium batteries require special handling. Do not touch leaking or swollen batteries. Isolate in plastic or cardboard box with sand or kitty litter and drop off at one of the Region’s Waste Management Facilities.
Keep batteries out of reach of young children.
Tape the terminals. For lithium, 9-volt and other batteries with exposed terminals, cover both ends with non-conductive tape (like electrical or duct tape). This prevents short circuits and fires during storage or transport.
Don’t mix alkaline, lithium, NiMH and lead-acid batteries in one bag or container. Different chemistries can react with each other or cause overheating.
Handle leaking batteries carefully. Wear gloves and eye protection if you see corrosion or white powder. Place the battery in a plastic bag and take it to a household hazardous waste facility.
Alternative drop off locations
RPRA's 'Where to Recycle' map display locations across Ontario where you can drop off used materials to be recycled, such as batteries, electronics, household hazardous waste, lighting and tires. Find locations near you.
