It's not just the start of a new year; Thursday marks a major change in recycling collection in Windsor-Essex.
January 1 marks the end of Ontario's three-year transition to extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper products. Instead of being the responsibility of municipalities to collect funding through their tax base to support the program, it'll be paid for exclusively by companies that produce recyclable waste, saving municipalities an estimated $200-million.
The new system is expected to make it easier to recycle, improve recovery rates, and advance a circular economy. According to Circular Materials, the extended producer responsibility model is recognized as one of the most effective mechanisms for improving recycling rates, and shifting financial responsibility away from municipalities will allow them to redirect taxpayer dollars to other local initiatives.
Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization, will assume administration of the new recycling program where residents place all recyclable materials in the same bin, doing away with separate collection for paper, glass, and plastic. Ryse Solutions, Landbell Canada, and EnviroFocus Incorporated are the new operators.
"January 1, 2026, marks a major milestone and step forward for recycling in Ontario," said Circular Materials CEO Allen Langdon. "Ontario residents will now be able to recycle more materials than ever before, and recycle the same materials no matter where they live across the province. By leaving the province and the planet better than we found it, we will leave a sustainable legacy that benefits generations to come," he said.
The first day of recycling pickup in Windsor under the new system in each zone is as follows:
* 3B - Friday, January 2
* 4B - Saturday, January 3
* 1A - Tuesday, January 6
* 2A - Wednesday, January 7
* 3A - Thursday, January 8
* 4A - Friday, January 9
* 1B - Tuesday, January 13
* 2B - Wednesday, January 14
The city recently moved to weekly organic waste pickup and biweekly garbage collection. Crews will pick up recycling every other week.
The new collection bins were distributed across the region earlier this fall, and more items like coffee cups, ice cream tubs, toothpaste tubes, deodorant, frozen juice containers, and black plastic containers will be accepted.
Click here to see the full list of acceptable recyclables.
The change marks the first time ever in Ontario that recycling will be uniform across the province, meaning no matter where you live, the same items can be recycled.
