The County of Simcoe will continue lobbying the provincial government to include certain small industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector locations in Ontario’s upcoming producer-led recycling collection program.
Currently, producers and municipalities share the cost of collection of recyclables equally, however beginning in January 2026, producers of recycling will be 100 per cent physically and financially responsible for the Blue Box recycling program in Ontario.
That program covers materials such as paper, glass, cardboard and plastics from "eligible" sources, which includes residential locations, schools and non-profit long-term care homes/seniors’ residences.
As part of the change, producers will not be responsible for the management of recycling from the ICI sector.
Local food banks currently fall within that sector, noted Tay Township Mayor Ted Walker, who said he has been approached by his local food bank indicating they don’t have an exemption and would be required to pay for recycling collection under the new legislation. This revelation was something that concerned him.
“There is a letter coming asking that the county consider lobbying the province to look for an exemption there,” he said during Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting.
Rob Elliott, the county’s general manager of engineering, planning and environment, told council that staff have met with ministry officials on multiple occasions highlighting their concerns with this transition, including the ICI sector.
“We think this transition is going to leave a lot of recyclable materials at the curbside and probably ending up in the garbage stream. Despite our best efforts — and support from this council to make those lobbying efforts — we just haven’t seen the success in getting the ear of the ministry changed on this front,” he said, adding that's despite acknowledgement from ministry officials that there is a risk their concerns could ring true.
“We will continue to lobby on that behalf, but we would welcome letters such as that for additional support," Elliott said.
Collingwood Deputy Mayor Tim Fryer expressed his disappointment that lobbying efforts in regards to small ICI have fallen on deaf ears to date. He said he has received a question from his town's local Business Improvement Area (BIA) wondering what they could do to assist.
BIAs and downtown areas are "a bit trickier" to navigate due to the combination of residential units and commercial units, said Elliott, adding staff will continue to forward their observations as this change unfolds to the ministry and continue their lobbying efforts.
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin said she was part of a delegation that lobbied the provincial government during Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) meetings when Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin served as environment minister, adding efforts will continue in an attempt to change the government’s mind.
“I guess the only little bit of a glimmer of hope is that we have a new minister of the environment … and he hasn’t heard the pitch yet. We can keep trying,” Dollin said.
The county staff report says producers have indicated they will neither collect nor process ineligible sources’ recycling as part of their obligations.
"Therefore, if the county were to provide recycling services to ineligible sources, the collected materials would have to be separated from eligible sources’ materials and the county would be required to oversee the collection, transportation and processing, assuming 100 per cent of the costs,” states the report.
The report also says staff believe producers of recycling should be responsible for managing all their materials, regardless of the source of consumption, and that all property types should be deemed eligible.
The county’s waste drop-off facilities will continue to accept recycling after Jan. 1, 2026, meaning any resident or business of the county would be able to bring recycling to a waste drop-off facility, regardless of if it is an eligible or ineligible source. However, they would now be charged a fee as the county would be responsible for the full cost of collection, transportation and processing.
