Recycling

Blue Box changes beginning July 1, 2024
Beginning July 1, 2024, Durham Region will no longer manage the Blue Box program. The Blue Box program will transition responsibility to Circular Materials, a not-for-profit who represents the producers and importers of the products and packaging collected in the blue box. Community members will continue to recycle the same materials on their usual blue box pickup day. Learn more

Blue box recyclables are collected every week by the Region of Durham on the same day as your green bin collection. Check your collection schedule by downloading the Durham Region Waste App or using the Waste Schedule tool.

Use two or more blue boxes to separate your recyclables, using

• one box for containers
• one box for papers.

Set your materials by the curb no later than 7 a.m. on the day of your collection and no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.

Materials left at the curb?

Were your blue bins left at the curb? Before calling The Region of Durham to report a missed blue bin collection, please review common set out mistakes on the Waste Tips page. To report a missed blue bin collection to Circular Materials by calling 1-855-577-4351 or email [email protected].

Curbside blue box collection

Blue box guidelines

• Do not overload blue bins. Purchase additional boxes if needed, or use rigid open-top containers similar in size to a blue box.
• Recyclables in plastic bags will not be collected.
• On windy days, put your recycling out for collection in the morning instead of the night before. Consider purchasing an approved blue bin lid to keep your waste tidy.
• Stack recycling boxes to prevent paper from blowing away.
• Flatten smaller boxes (boxboard) and place them securely in your blue box
• Place large, flattened and tied cardboard bundles securely on top or between your blue boxes.
• Rinse all containers and ensure they are clean and free of grease, liquid or food.
• Fold all aluminum trays.
• During the winter, please set out blue boxes on cleared portions of your driveway and not on top of snow banks or icy patches.

Not sure what goes in the blue bin?

Use the Know Before You Throw tool to correctly sort your waste! 

Recycling containers

Be sure to empty, rinse and place these materials loose in one blue box:

• all plastic bottles with a twist-off top (lids left on), up to 20 L in size
• clear moulded bakery item trays
• clear cold drink cups and lids
• clear plastic egg cartons
• clear plastic fruit and vegetable containers
• empty aerosol cans with lids removed
• empty paint cans with lids removed
• glass bottles and jars (metal lids removed and placed in the blue box separately)
• metal food and beverage containers
• paper milk and juice cartons
• plastic tubs and lids (yogurt and ice cream type containers), up to 20 L in size
• plastic takeout food containers

Recycling papers and cardboard

Papers

Place these papers loosely in one blue box:

• catalogues, magazines, paperback books and phone books
• junk mail and envelopes
• newspapers, office paper and computer paper
• shredded paper should be placed inside a smaller box, such as a cereal box

Cardboard and boxboard

• fold smaller boxes (boxboard) flat and place in the same blue bin as the papers above.
• fold larger boxes (boxboard and cardboard) flat, then tie and bundle the same size as your blue box
• place next to or on top of your blue boxes

Do not put these materials in your blue box

• batteries unless it is scheduled for collection
• bottles and jars with food or liquid remaining (causes sorting difficulties at the recycling facility)
• clothing and shoes
• furnace air filters
• grocery/shopping bags
• household hazardous waste
• oversized 20 L jugs
• paper coffee cups
• paper fibre egg cartons or drink trays
• plant pots and trays (check with your local nursery if they take back nursery plant pots and trays for reuse or recycling)
• rigid plastic items such as children's toys, clothes hangers, plastic plates and utensils, watering cans
• metal items such as pots, pans, metal coat hangers and scrap metal
• styrofoam^© such as packaging materials, meat trays and egg cartons

To find out how to dispose of these materials, use the Know Before You Throw tool.

Curbside blue boxes and blue box lids

Curbside blue boxes

The Blue Box program in Durham Region is managed by Circular Materials, the administrator of the common collection system and a national not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. Visit Circular Materials for more information. Residents can still check their collection schedule by downloading the Durham Waste App or use the look up tool to find your collection schedule, set reminders and print your collection calendar.

For any recycling collection inquiries, please reach out to Circular Materials' local recycling contractor. They can be contacted about replacement bins, missed collection and any other recycling questions by contacting the following:

GFL Environmental Inc.
[email protected]
1-855-577-4351
gflenv.com/canadarecycles
Blue Box material will still be accepted at Regional Waste Management Facilities. Waste disposal fees apply.

Blue box Lids

Service Oshawa, located at City Hall sells blue box lids for $13. For more information and operating hours, visit the Service Oshawa page.