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County of Brant

Learn more about your recycling program.

Blue Box Recycling program transition

As of January 1, 2025, the County of Brant’s Blue Box 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.

Recycling resources

Learn more about Blue Box recycling collection in the County of Brant.

Get in touch

As of January 1, 2025, please contact Emterra for any Blue Box recycling collection inquiries. They can be contacted for:

  • Replacement recycling blue boxes.
  • Missed collections.
  • Other recycling questions.

Emterra

Be recycle ready

  • Place recyclables at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
  • Your collection day will remain the same in 2025 as it was in 2024.
  • Unlimited blue box materials can be set out with a weight limit of 20kg (45 lbs) per container.
  • An acceptable “Recycling Container” includes blue boxes or any other container approved for the storing and setting out of recyclable material including:
    • Blue boxes, rigid plastic containers, clear plastic bags (maximum 50 litres and must be securely tied), and cardboard boxes that will not bend or give when lifted, no taller than 21 inches and 24 inches wide.

What’s accepted

County of Brant residents can put all of their acceptable blue box materials together loose, or co-mingled, into their blue box. No sorting of materials is required. Read below for Acceptable and unacceptable materials.

Acceptable Box Board:

  • Packaging made of boxboard including cereal and cracker boxes, toothpaste boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, etc.

Unacceptable Box Board:

  • No waxed box board, soiled, oil stained or painted boxes

How to Properly Recycle:

  • Simply place neatly in or beside your blue box
  • Remove all inner and outer packaging materials and plastics
  • Break down smaller boxes and place insider larger boxes or in a paper bag

Acceptable Cardboards:

  • Packaging made of clean corrugated cardboard
  • Maximum bundle size of 0.8m x 0.8m x 0.25m (32” x 32x” x 10”)
  • Secure cardboard that is too big to fit loose in the blue box with masking tape, packing tape or light string

Unacceptable Cardboards:

  • No waxed cardboard or soiled, oil stained or painted boxes
  • No grease-stained pizza boxes

How to Properly Recycle:

  • Place neatly beside, under or in your blue box
  • Remove all inner and outer packaging materials and plastics
  • Pieces should be smaller than 0.8m x 0.8m x .25m (32″ x 32″ x 10″)
  • Leave small pieces loose in your blue box and secure bundles with packing tape or twine

Acceptable Glass:

  • Food and beverage glass containers

Unacceptable Glass:

  • Window glass and mirrors
  • Lightbulbs
  • Drinking glasses and cups
  • Ceramics, dishes and ovenware

How to Properly Recycle:

  • Place loose in the blue box
  • Remove lids, place recyclable lids in blue box
  • Rinse out residue

Acceptable Glass:

  • Food and beverage glass containers

Unacceptable Glass:

  • Window glass and mirrors
  • Lightbulbs
  • Drinking glasses and cups
  • Ceramics, dishes and ovenware

How to Properly Recycle:

  • Place loose in the blue box
  • Remove lids, place recyclable lids in blue box
  • Rinse out residue

Acceptable Mixed Paper:

  • Hot and cold beverage cups
  • Magazines, ad mail, newspapers and flyers
  • Phonebooks
  • Paper back and hard copy books
  • Printer or photocopy paper 
  • Tetra Pak™ drink and soup cartons
  • Gable Top type cartons (milk and juice)
  • Ice Cream Cartons
  • Cardboard can (examples juice and chip containers)

Unacceptable Mixed Paper:

  • Waxed paper
  • Gift Wrapping
  • Butcher Paper
  • Photographs
  • Diapers
  • Paper Beverage Trays 

How to Properly Recycle:

  1. Remove and discard plastic caps
  2. Rinse out residue
  3. Place loose in the Blue Box (please do not crush)
  4. Do not bundle or bag mixed paper. Simply place them neatly in your blue box or in paper bags to reduce blowing litter
  5. Shredded paper must be compacted

Acceptable Plastics:

  • Food, beverage containers and bottles, household cleaning and personal hygiene product bottles (laundry / dish soap) made of mixed plastics 
  • Clear and black “clam shell” type fruit/deli/prepared food, bakery and takeout containers
  • Plastic plates, cups and coffee cup lids
  • Single serving plastic food containers (example yogurt containers – please remove film or foil lids and discard)
  • Plastic plant pots and trays
  • Single use coffee pods (coffee must be removed)

Unacceptable Plastics:

  • Plastic Cutlery
  • Styrofoam™ (#6) meat trays, packaging materials and cups
  • Grocery / bread bags
  • Plastic wrap / films
  • Plastic toys and tools
  • Hazardous waste containers
  • Motor oil bottles
  • Blister Packaging

How to Properly Recycle:

  • Place loose in the blue box (do not crush) 
  • Remove lids, place recyclable lids in blue box
  • Rinse out residue