Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,
Starting April 1, the Provincial Government has mandated that the Blue Box program transitions to a collection system funded and operated by the producers of recycling materials. Here is what it means for you.
For more details, please continue reading below…
As of April 1, 2025, Hamilton’s recycling program will be managed by Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. The City will no longer be responsible for recycling inquiries or problems.
The City will continue, however, maintain collection of landfill garbage, bulk items, food organics, leaf and yard waste, and Christmas trees. Seasonal yard waste collection resumed the week of March 3, 2025 and continues until December 5, 2025.
As always, blue boxes and recycling are picked up every week. Your recycling must be placed at the curb in front of your property between 7 pm on the evening before and 7 am on the morning of your scheduled collection day.
Residents can put out as many blue boxes as needed, but since Hamilton has a two-stream recycling system residents will need at least 2 blue recycling boxes for proper sorting, one devoted to papers and cardboard while the other can be used for plastics, glass and other recyclable products.
Below is a list of what will be accepted in each blue box:
Paper and cardboard recycling
- Computer paper, writing paper and envelopes
- Magazines and catalogues
- Newspaper and flyers
- Boxboard (cereal, detergent, tissue and frozen food boxes)
- Paper egg cartons, toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls
- Cardboard boxes (flatten, tie in bundles and place beside your blue box)
- Gift bags and wrapping paper (handles removed, non-metallic)
Container recycling
- Aluminum and metal cans
- Aluminum foil, plates and trays
- Paint cans (empty)
- Cartons (juice, milk and soup)
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper coffee cups
- Plastic bottles (lids off)
- Plastic tubs and lids
- Plastic fruit baskets and containers
- Plastic flower pots and trays (light colours only)
Residents should also be aware that the 2025/2026 Waste Guide along with 12 blue trash tags have been mailed out as of March 3rd over a two-week period and should be expected soon if they haven’t already appeared in your mailbox.
The 2025/26 Waste Guide informs residents on the recycling change, as well as providing sorting information, changes to the Blue Box Program and the Holiday collection calendar.
For more information visit https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/garbage-recycling.
Questions or concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our office here.