Circular Materials is now responsible for the collection of recyclables. For issues with missed or incomplete collection, please contact their local contractor, Emterra, directly at customercareont@emterra.ca or 1-888-597-1541. If you are not able to resolve your recycling issues with Emterra, please direct all concerns to Circular Materials at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or 1-877-667-2626.

Blue Box Recycling collection and processing is now the responsibility of the producers of packaging and paper products. 

The recycling program is now managed by Circular Materials (CMO) – the administrator of the common collection system and a not-for-profit organization that is committed to building an efficient and effective recycling system in Ontario. Visit Circular Materials website for more information. 

Curbside recycling collection is collected the same day as garbage collection. Curbside collection for all residents takes place on:

• Wednesday for North Monaghan collection
• Friday for Millbrook and Cavan collection

Recycling must be in a clearly visible area, properly sorted at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled pick-up day.

Please ensure recyclable materials do not enter the garbage waste stream and divert material whenever possible. Our garbage collectors have the right to refuse pick-up if a garbage bag contains more than 10% of divertible materials.

Materials Sorting

Your recyclables are sorted into two streams – a containers box and a paper box. Please see the Blue Box Sorting Guide for reference on properly sorting requirements.

To find out what goes where, you can search with the interactive sorting wizard available on the Circular Materials Website. 

It is requested that all containers be kept loose in your blue bin for collection. Bagged containers create a major problem at the processing plant, including de-bagging and increased contamination. Any bagged containers will be left uncollected at the curb. Please use blue boxes for recycling.

If you need to bag containers, these should be taken to one of the two Depot Drop-Off points to be emptied: the Township Transfer Station at 1427 Syer Line or the Peterborough City/County Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Road. No bags are to enter the container bins.

Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I)

The producer led blue box program applies to residential and other eligible properties including schools, and non-profit long-term care and retirement homes, but excludes non-eligible sources such as businesses, places of worship, municipal buildings, daycares, commercial farms, charities, and campgrounds and trailer parks. These types of properties will not receive blue box collection funded by the producers under the new blue box program. 

Peterborough County is discontinuing collection of blue box materials from IC&I properties that are not eligible for participation in the provincial program effective January 1, 2026.  A detailed explanation is available through the enclosed notice sent to affected IC&I properties. 

If your business/organization is currently participating in Peterborough County’s blue box program you will no longer receive blue box collection as of January 1, 2026.

For more information please visit the County of Peterborough’s website.