Blue Box Changes
Updated March 25, 2026
Roadside waste collection restarts next week.
Roadside garbage collection resumes on your next regularly scheduled garbage collection day.
Roadside organics and recycling collection resumes on your next regularly scheduled Green Cart and Blue Box collection day.
Temporary increased limits will be in place as follows:
Garbage collection, weeks of March 30 and April 6
Residential properties may set out up to four bags, containers or bundles per unit.
Registered Yellow Bag participants may set out up to 12 yellow bags per registered participant.
Registered participants in the diaper waste program should place all clear bags of diaper waste at the roadside on their regularly scheduled diaper collection day.
Green Cart and Blue Box, week of March 30
Extra organic waste that does not fit in your Green Cart may be placed in certified compostable bags and set on top of or beside your Green Cart in a cardboard box or similar small container without a lid. Do not place bags directly on the ground.
Extra recyclables may be placed next to your Blue Box in a cardboard box or other box without a lid no larger than a Blue Box.
Yellow Box Recycling Carts, weeks of March 30 and April 6
Recyclables that do not fit in your cart may be placed next to your cart in a cardboard box or other box without a lid no larger than a Blue Box.
Residents and property owners are asked to support a smooth and safe collection process by following these tips:
- Do not place waste on snowbanks, sidewalks or in the travelled roadway.
- Keep waste at the mouth of your driveway.
- Put waste out by 7 a.m. on collection day.
- All bags and containers must weigh no more than 40 lb / 18 kg.
- For properties using waste storage containers, please clear snow from the top of your storage container and ensure there is a safe, clear path for collection crews to access it. Waste storage containers that cannot be accessed cannot be collected.
Landfill sites and Recycling Centre
The Sudbury, Azilda and Hanmer landfill sites, the Walden Small Vehicle Transfer Station and the Recycling Centre will open to all customers on Thursday, March 26, during regular operating hours.
All regular tipping and gate fees will be in effect. Wait times may be longer than usual at landfill sites. Residents are encouraged to check the Sudbury landfill livestream before heading to the site.
To reduce wait times, residents are encouraged to hold their waste until roadside collection resumes. Those who do visit landfill sites can support waste diversion by separating recyclable and compostable waste.
Waste services that have not yet resumed:
- Furniture, appliance and electronic collection and pick-up requests are unavailable until further notice.
- Requests for new or additional Green Carts are unavailable until further notice.
- Leaf and yard trimming collection will resume on your regularly scheduled garbage and leaf and yard collection day beginning the week of April 13.
Beginning January 1, 2026, in accordance with new provincial legislation, management of the residential Blue Box program has transferred from the City to Circular Materials.
Missed Blue Box Collection? Questions?
Contact WM as of January 1, 2026
1.800.561.1655
canresidential@wm.com
To find out what is recyclable and for more information, please see circularmaterials.ca/sudbury.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Box Changes
Click a question below to see the answer.
Who is Circular Materials Ontario (CMO)?
Why are these changes happening?
What are the benefits of this change?
When is this change going to happen?
Who will be collecting my roadside Blue Boxes? Will the collection time or day change in January 2026?
Why am I seeing City contracted WM trucks collecting Blue Box recycling?
Do I need to buy a new Blue Box?
Who do I call for missed Blue Box recycling collection or other inquiries for the remainder of 2025?
Who do I call for missed Blue Box recycling collection or other inquiries as of January 1, 2026?
What changes should I expect in 2026?
Will my Waste Wise app still remind me of my collection schedule?
Will I still be able to put all my recyclable materials in one container? Will I have to sort the Blue Box items being placed at the roadside?
Will there be changes to the items accepted in the Blue Box?
Can residents still take their Blue Box materials to the Recycling Centre drop-off depot and the landfill waste diversion areas to be recycled?
What about non-residential recycling and Yellow Box program participants?
Who is Circular Materials Ontario (CMO)?
Circular Materials Ontario, or CMO, is a Producer Responsibility Organization charged with managing residential Blue Box recycling on behalf of the Producers - companies whose packaging and products are accepted in the Blue Box program. These companies are now directly responsible for the safe and responsible management of their products at the end of their life, closing the loop and creating what’s called a Circular Economy. For more information about CMO, and the Circular Economy, visit www.circularmaterials.ca.
Why are these changes happening?
These changes are a result of a new provincial mandate, under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act’s Blue Box regulation, whereby the operational and fiscal responsibility of the Blue Box program is fully placed on the producers of Blue Box recyclable materials. This approach is called Extended Producer Responsibility and already applies to a number of items you have probably disposed of before, like tires, electronics, batteries and other hazardous materials. For more information about the new regulation, and Extended Producer Responsibility, visit www.rpra.ca.
What are the benefits of this change?
Shifting responsibility of the Blue Box program from municipalities to the producers of Blue Box materials provides:
- financial savings for municipalities and property taxpayers – estimated at approximately $2.1 million in Greater Sudbury; and
- incentivizes producers to design packaging that's easier to recycle and reduce unnecessary materials.
When is this change going to happen?
This change takes full effect as of January 1, 2026.
Who will be collecting my roadside Blue Boxes? Will the collection time or day change in January 2026?
WM will continue to co-collect your Blue Boxes at the roadside on the same day along with your Green Cart. Make sure your waste is at the curb no later than 7 a.m. to ensure collection. You can continue to find your collection schedule on the Waste Wise app or on-line tool.
Why am I seeing City-contracted WM trucks collecting Blue Box recycling?
Although the Blue Box recycling program is now managed by Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), you may still notice trucks with a City of Greater Sudbury logo collecting recyclables in your neighbourhood. This is because the City is working with CMO’s contractor, WM, to make use of trucks that were previously used for Blue Box recycling but are now primarily needed for Green Cart organics collection. Continuing to share these vehicles is more efficient, helps reduce costs, and lowers emissions compared to running two separate trucks.
Collecting Blue Box recycling and Green Cart organics at the same time also saves fuel, reduces the number of trucks on the road, and ensures reliable service with minimal changes for residents.
Do I need to buy a new Blue Box?
No. Continue using your existing Blue Box. Just make sure it is at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled recycling collection day.
Who do I call for missed Blue Box recycling collection or other inquiries for the remainder of 2025?
You can continue to contact 311 for any recycling-related service issues until December 31, 2025.
Who do I call for missed Blue Box recycling collection or other inquiries as of January 1, 2026?
As of January 1, 2026, residents can contact WM at 1-800-561-1655 or canresidential@wm.com to report missed recycling collection, get a new or replacement Blue Box, or to find out what is accepted in the Blue Box.
What changes should I expect in 2026?
Residents can expect the following changes in 2026;
- Who to Contact: Starting January 1, 2026, contact WM for Blue Box questions, collection concerns, or new/replacement Blue Boxes:
Phone: 1-800-561-1655
Email: canresidential@wm.com
- Accepted Materials: The list of acceptable Blue Box items may change. Details can be found at: circularmaterials.ca/Sudbury
- Yellow Box Program: The program will continue with changes. Participants will receive details by mail and can find information on the City’s website.
Will my Waste Wise app still remind me of my collection schedule?
Yes, your Blue Box collection schedule can still be accessed on the Waste Wise app or on-line tool. If your app notifications are turned on, you will continue to receive collection day reminders.
Will I still be able to put all my recyclable materials in one container? Will I have to sort the Blue Box items being placed at the roadside?
Residents will not have to change the way they place their Blue Box recyclables at the roadside. All Blue Box materials will continue to be collected from the same container.
Will there be changes to the items accepted in the Blue Box?
There will be some changes to the list of acceptable Blue Box items for residential users. visit circularmaterials.ca/Sudbury to find out what materials are accepted.
Can residents still take their Blue Box materials to the Recycling Centre drop-off depot and the landfill waste diversion areas to be recycled?
Yes, residents and businesses alike can continue to bring their Blue Box recyclable materials to the Recycling Centre drop-off depot or any landfill diversion area.
What about non-residential recycling and Yellow Box program participants?
The Yellow Box program will continue with changes. Details can be found by visiting the Non-Residential Recycling section of the City’s website.