Recycling Program
Update: Residential blue box recycling
Beginning January 2026, residential blue box recycling in Ontario is the responsibility of Circular Materials. This means your recycling won't be collected by your municipal government. Learn more at https://www.circularmaterials.ca/resident-communities/oxford-county/
In Oxford County, Circular Materials has contracted recycling collection to Emterra Environmental. For questions, missed collections, or to request a recycling bin, please contact:
Emterra Environmental
1-888-597-1541
customercareont@emterra.ca
Business recycling program
Under Ontario’s new producer responsibility framework, producers are only required to collect recycling material from residential properties. The legislation excludes businesses and other organizations historically receiving blue box collection.
To address this service gap, Oxford County is implementing a new Business, Commercial, and Institutional (BCI) curbside recycling collection program. Businesses must register online with the County to participate and must meet the program requirements.
The BCI program is intended for small businesses and institutions, childcare centres, places of worship, campgrounds and trailer parks (without permanent or seasonal households), and commercial farms that meet the following requirements:
- Must be located along an existing residential garbage collection route;
- Must be registered with and approved by the County;
- Must comply with all Oxford County collection requirements; and,
- Must use 360L recycling carts or 83L Blue Boxes.
There are no additional user/collection fee to participate in the BCI recycling program.
You will need to purchase a container, however, if do not have a suitable one. Containers can be purchased from Oxford County at cost.
The BCI program begins in all Oxford County municipalities the week of January 5, 2026.
If you have not registered for the program, your recycling will not be collected.
Collection information
This information is for those participating in Oxford County's Business, Commercial and Institutional Recycling Program, only. Information regarding residential recycling can be found on Circular Materials - Oxford County website.
Collection will be provided on a weekly basis. Approved applicants will receive notification of their assigned collection day via email.
- Containers must remain intact and in good condition (i.e. no sharp edges that could injure a collector).
- Only County approved 83L and 360L recycling containers can be used for the program.
- Approved businesses have the option of using existing containers (program identification stickers must be attached and visible) or purchasing containers from the County at cost. For current pricing information and pick-up locations, please visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/containers.
|
Acceptable materials |
Set out requirements |
|
Cardboard boxes Pizza boxes, direct mail boxes, moving boxes, shoe boxes. |
*Must remove all excess tape and packaging from cardboard, flattened, and be no larger than 75cm x 75cm x 20cm (30” x 30” x 8”). Excess cardboard must be bundled with cotton jute or twine. |
|
Boxboard Tissues boxes, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls. |
Empty and flatten. |
|
Paper Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags. Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed materials. Flyers, brochures, magazines. Greeting cards, envelopes, gift bags. |
Empty. Place shredded paper in a tied clear plastic bag. Separate from plastic bags used to cover items, remove elastic bands. Remove rope handle from gift bags. Do not include soft or hard covered books/novels.
|
|
Paper laminate packaging Food service bags and plates.
|
Empty. |
|
Paper laminate packaging Spiral cans, hot and cold beverage cups.
|
Empty, remove lids. |
|
Cartons Beverage cartons, coffee creamers, sugar cartons.
|
Empty, lids on. |
|
Plastic containers Salad dressing, dish soap, plastic beverage bottles. Food trays, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids. Small item packaging, hand sanitizer bottles, plant pots. |
Empty, lids on. |
|
Flexible plastic packaging Bags used for dry cleaning, newspaper and flyers. Overwrap for paper towel & toilet paper, beverage containers. Coffee bags or deli pouches, chips bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers.
|
Empty, flexible plastic package must be consolidated in a plastic bag. No loose plastic film.
|
|
Foam packaging Takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging.
|
Empty. |
|
Metal Food cans, metal lids, coffee tins, beverage cans.
|
Empty. |
|
Aluminum (foil and trays) Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays.
|
Empty. |
|
Aerosol containers Air fresheners.
|
Empty, lids on. |
|
Glass containers Clear and coloured glass. Jars and bottles, non-alcoholic glass beverage containers.
|
Empty, lids off. |
Other diversion programs
Oxford County continues to provide a number of recycling and disposal services that help divert waste from the landfill.
