An enhanced recycling system is coming to Ontario
Exciting news, Ontario: an enhanced recycling system is coming in 2026!
Right now, each Ontario community accepts different materials for recycling in different ways.
Starting in 2026, recycling will become even simpler! Here’s what’s changing:
- Recycle anywhere: No matter where you are in the province —home, on vacation, or just passing through—you’ll be able to recycle the same materials. Plus, you’ll be able to recycle even more materials in your curbside recycling.
- Recycle more: These are examples of some of the new materials accepted as of January 1, 2026. Please scroll below for the full list of materials accepted for recycling across Ontario.
- Black plastic containers.
- Hot and cold beverage cups (coffee cups).
- Frozen juice containers.
- Ice cream tubs.
- Deodorant and toothpaste tubes.
What you can recycle
Cardboard boxes
Pizza boxes, direct mail boxes, moving boxes, shoe boxes.
✅ Flatten. No larger than 60 x 60 cm.
Boxboard
Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel.
✅ Flatten.
✅ Empty.
Paper laminate packaging
Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
Paper laminate containers
Spiral cans, cookie dough package, ice cream containers, and hot and cold beverage cups.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Remove lids.
Cartons
Beverage cartons, juice and milk cartons, coffee creamers, and sugar cartons, soup and sauce cartons.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Paper
Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags.
Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed materials.
Community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines.
Greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes.
✅ Empty.
✅ Place shredded paper in a tied clear plastic bag.
✅ Separate from plastic bags used to cover items, remove elastic bands.
✅ Remove rope handle from bags.
❌ Do not include soft or hard covered books/novels.
Hard plastic containers
Laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles, plastic beverage bottles.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Plastic packaging and containers
Food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Tubes
Toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes.
✅ Empty and free from residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
Small item plastic packaging
Hand sanitizer bottles, medication bottles, blister packs, plant pots.
✅ Empty and free from food and residue.
✅ Keep lids on.
Flexible plastic packaging
Bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers. Overwrap (paper towel & toilet paper, beverage containers). Coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
Foam packaging
Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging for products.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Remove film wrap and absorbent pads from meat trays.
Metal containers
Food cans, metal lids, cookie, coffee and tea tins, beverage cans.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Aluminum (foils and trays)
Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Ball up aluminum foil.
Aerosol containers
Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant.
✅ Empty.
✅ Lids on.
❌ Aerosols with toxic, corrosive or flammable symbol are not accepted with the exception of:
-
- Cooking oil sprays and products designed for food
-
- Hairsprays, cosmetics and products designed to be used on hair/skin
Glass containers
Clear and coloured glass.
Food containers, jars and bottles, cosmetic containers, spice bottles, oil and vinegar bottles, non-alcoholic glass beverage containers.
✅ Empty and free from food residue.
✅ Lids off.
❌ Do not include alcoholic beverage containers.
Rinse
Give containers a quick rinse before putting in your recycling.
Flatten
Bundle and tie cardboard to save space.
Clean and loose
Ensure materials are clean, dry and loose in your recycling.
No hazards
Keep hazardous materials, such as batteries and sharps, out of your recycling.
Find your local recycling information
Learn more about your community’s recycling program.
Type your community name to find more information about your recycling program. If your community is not listed, please refer to your community’s website for recycling information.