City of Brantford residents can now recycle more with Ontario’s enhanced Blue Box Program

BRANTFORD, ON – As of January 1, 2026, Brantford residents are able to place more items in their blue box for recycling. Circular Materials Ontario, a not-for-profit organization created by producers to operate Ontario’s Blue Box Program, is now standardizing the list of acceptable Blue Box items across the province. Circular Materials has operated the residential Blue Box program for the City of Brantford since January 1, 2025. 

The following items that can now be recycled in the City of Brantford and all of Ontario:

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

Foam Packaging

• Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging

Paper

• Gift boxes

Paper Laminate Packaging

• Pet food bags
• Food service paper bags and plates
• Cookie dough package
• Ice cream containers
• Hot and cold beverage cups

Plastic Containers

• Black food tray
• Toothpaste tubes
• Deodorant
• Hand cream tubes

For the full list of acceptable items, please visit the Circular Materials (Brantford) website at https://www.circularmaterials.ca/resident-communities/brantford/.

The City of Brantford’s curbside recycling collection schedule remains unchanged. Residents can continue using their existing blue boxes and should continue to sort materials by cardboard and containers. Circular Materials has contracted Emterra to manage all recycling curbside collection in Brantford. Residents should contact Emterra for customer service inquiries, including how to replace a Blue Box and to report missed recycling collection, at 1-888-597-1541 or customercareont@emterra.ca. 

Starting January 1, 2026, commercial and institutional properties, including not-for-profit organizations, municipal buildings, daycares or places of worship on a residential route, will no longer be eligible for curbside recycling collection through the Ontario Blue Box program. Residents and businesses can continue to take recyclable materials to Mohawk Street Landfill at 20 Morrison Road, Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., free of charge.

To learn more about Ontario’s Blue Box Program, please visit the Circular Materials (Brantford) website.

About Ontario’s Blue Box Program

As of January 1, 2026, Ontario’s Blue Box Program has transitioned from being operated by municipalities to a producer operated program, placing financial and operational responsibility for recycling, including curbside collection, on businesses that create packaging and paper products. Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization created by producers to operate Ontario’s Blue Box program, is now standardizing the list of acceptable Blue Box items across the province.