Waste Management

Changes to garbage and recycling collection, and the launch of a green program for organic waste, begin in 2026. Watch for updates at www.speakup.oxfordcounty.ca/new-waste-collection 

Residents living in South-West Oxford and Woodstock will start receiving their new green bins for organic waste collection, such as food scraps, starting in October.

Bins will be dropped near your front door if you live in a detached or semi-detached home that is currently on a curbside garbage collection route. You’ll receive one 45-litre green bin to set out your organic waste at the curb, and one 7-litre kitchen container for collecting kitchen scraps.

Green bin organics collection will not be available to apartment buildings with six or more units until later in 2026. Residents living above businesses are eligible to receive a green bin, but need to call Oxford County to make arrangements for drop off at 1-800-755-0394 , ext. 3159.

Please note: South-West Oxford and Woodstock start green bin collection in January 2026. All other Oxford municipalities will start green bin collection in May 2027.

Read the news release

The first issue outlines several key changes coming in 2026, including the rollout of green bin collection and a shift to six-day waste collection in South-West Oxford and Woodstock. It also highlights the transition to a new province-wide blue box program for all Oxford County residents, and introduces a County-led curbside recycling program for businesses and institutions not included in the new provincial system.

Residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the newsletter for a chance to win 30 bag tags. To enter, simply scan the QR code found in your copy of the newsletter.

Read the newsletter online
Read the news release

When responsibility for providing recycling services shifts to Circular Materials under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act on January 1, 2026, many small businesses, commercial and institutional properties, and not-for-profit/public sector organizations that are part of the current municipal program will not be eligible for recycling pick-up under the new provincial program.

Oxford County Council is implementing a curbside recycling collection program for this sector. Businesses and other organizations are invited to complete an online registration form to confirm their interest in this service. There is no user fee for approved participants to take part in this program, which would begin the week of January 5, 2026, in all eight area municipalities. More

Garbage bag tag fees in Oxford County will increase from $2.00 a bag to $3.00 effective January 1, 2026. Bag tags have not increased in price since 2014. Since 2021, population growth, fuel and other inflationary costs, and new regulatory requirements have increased waste collection costs at a higher rate than income generated by bag tag fees. 

Oxford County uses a “user pay” system in which all residents pay according to how much waste they produce. This means the County’s garbage collection and disposal costs are 100% funded from bag tags, with budget surpluses or deficits moving into a waste management reserve fund each year. If the curbside garbage collection program were to be funded entirely through taxation, it would increase Oxford County’s general tax levy by almost $5.0 million (5.5% increase). 

Read more about the garbage bag tag fee increase

Oxford County’s waste management programs and facilities continue to operate in compliance with regulatory requirements. The County achieved an overall landfill waste diversion rate for residential and ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional) waste of approximately 45% in 2023. The County’s municipal landfill has an estimated remaining service life of approximately 27 to 32 years.

Read the Annual Waste Management Reports

• This new program will collect food scraps and other biodegradable waste as part of the residential curbside collection program.
• When they join the program, each Oxford County residence will receive a 7-litre kitchen container to collect food scraps and a 45-litre green bin to set out at the curb on collection day.
• Organics collection starts in South-West Oxford and Woodstock in January 2026. Residents living in these municipalities will receive their green bin containers and more information this fall.
• All other area municipalities (Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Zorra) begin organic collection in May 2027.

• As of January 2026, both the City of Woodstock and the Township of South-West Oxford will be under a six-day cycle for co-collection (pick up at the same time) of garbage and organic waste. South-West Oxford currently follows a six-day cycle for garbage collection.
• Under this type of schedule, your collection day moves one day forward from week to week, skipping weekends and holidays.
• Annual collection calendars will be mailed out to residents ahead of time and automatic reminders will be available through the Wasteline mobile app. Collection days will also be  posted to the Curbside Collection page.
• In May of 2027, Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Zorra will move to a six-day cycle for co-collection of garbage and organics.

Download the Wasteline app to stay up to date on garbage and waste collection schedules

• Under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, responsibility for providing recycling services has now shifted to the producers (retailers, manufacturers, etc.) that create products and packaging. This change began in July 2023 and takes effect in Oxford County on January 1, 2026. Visit Blue Box - RPRA to learn more.
• More information and a list acceptable materials for the new blue box program will be sent to homes from Circular Materials this fall.
• Recycling pick-up days are directed by Circular Materials and may be different from garbage and green bin collection days.
• The new province-wide recycling program for Ontario only collects recycling from residential properties. To continue to provide recycling collection to small businesses and other organizations, Oxford County is starting a new recycling collection program for these groups. Learn more and register here)