Kingston’s recycling bins are getting a new manager
As of July 1, 2025, Kingston’s grey and blue recycling bin programs will be managed by Circular Materials Ontario (CMO).
This transition is part of a provincial mandate that all Ontario municipalities are required to follow, as the province shifts to a new system run and funded by the producers of recyclable materials. This approach is called extended producer responsibility and already applies to many commercial goods, including tires, batteries, electronics and hazardous materials like paint or antifreeze.
In Kingston, Emterra Environmental has been contracted to collect recyclable materials. As of July 1, if your collection was missed, you have questions, or you need new bins, residents must contact Emterra for service.
How recycling will change after July 1
Residents should notice little to no change in their weekly recycling routine. Blue and grey box collection will still happen regularly – but it’ll be handled by Circular Materials Ontario and Emterra instead of the City.
- Your collection day and accepted materials will stay the same until at least the end of 2025. In 2026 or later, CMO may update collection days or methods
- Keep using the Kingston Waste app as normal
- If you need a new bin or want to exchange a broken one, that will happen through Emterra
- Residents will need to contact Emterra for collection questions or issues. The City will not be able to submit requests on residents’ behalf
- Residents should not see any major changes to the current convenience drop-off for recyclable materials, household hazardous waste or leaf and brush at 196 Lappan’s Ln. at least until the end of 2025
We encourage residents to visit the City website for more details on this transition and contact information for Emterra.
This transition is not related to the automated cart-based waste collection transition rolling out across parts of Kingston.
Provincial mandate
The Ontario government’s Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act Blue Box Regulation of 2016 places full financial, operational and performance accountability for recycling programs on the producers of recyclable materials. The new collection system will make recycling easier by standardizing what can be recycled across Ontario.
The producer responsibility approach creates a direct incentive to producers to reduce waste and improve recycling, which decreases pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and reduces natural resource usage.
Contact Us
City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
