Blue Box Recycling Collection

Blue Boxes are collected weekly in all municipalities. There's no limit to the amount of recyclables that can be placed at the curb.

Place your Blue Box at the curb with your garbage by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day. Don't place your Blue Box at the curb any earlier than 5 p.m. the day before collection.

Acceptable Blue Box items

Search for an item to find out how to dispose of it.

List of acceptable Blue Box materials
Click on each item below for more information.

How to prepare your Blue Box

Don't place plastic bags in your Blue Box
Bundled bags together and place in your Grey Box
Save space by breaking down materials
Squeeze pop cans, large plastic bottles and beverage cartons to save space
Clean materials before recycling
Make sure items are free of food, liquid and residue before placing them in the Blue Box
Prevent items from blowing away
Get tips on how you can manage your Blue Box items on windy days

Acceptable plastic bags go in your Grey Box. Stuff all of your plastic bags into a separate bag, tie it and then place on top of the Grey Box.

Learn more about proper sorting and preparation for select materials known to cause problems at the Region's recycling centre because sorting your recycling matters.

Restrictions for substitute Blue Box containers

Residents may also use any other rigid, reusable container for curbside collection as long as it meets these size and weight restrictions, and contents are clearly identifiable as acceptable materials.

Size limitations for alternate containers

Height: 91 cm (36")
Diameter: 61 cm (24") roundness
Weight: 22.7 kg (50 lbs) when full

Contact

As of Jan. 1, Circular Materials is responsible for the residential Blue and Grey Box program.

For questions about your Blue and Grey Box recycling, contact your city / town's recycling contractor.

Miller Waste Systems - Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Welland: 1-833-621-0726

GFL Environmental Inc. - Grimsby, Lincoln, Pelham, Thorold, Wainfleet, West Lincoln: 1-855-769-3760

Niagara Region still provides Blue and Grey Box services to eligible Industrial, Commercial and Institutional properties. Learn more about the residential Blue Box / Grey Box transition.

Benefits of using the Blue Box

Using the Blue Box diverts waste from landfill and saves natural resources by limiting the amount of raw materials needed to produce new products.

For example, detergent bottles are ground into flakes and can form new plastic patio furniture, water cans, flower pots or traffic cones. Aluminum cans are melted, cut and rolled into new cans or CDs.

Blue Box materials are sorted and sold which offsets program costs to the taxpayer.