Starting January 1, 2026, an organization called Circular Materials will manage recycling, instead of Peel Region. This change is part of a province-wide mandate that shifts the responsibility of recycling operations and costs to producers; the companies that create packaging and paper.
Peel Region Waste Management will no longer be responsible for recycling collection in Peel. Peel will continue to operate Community Recycling Centres across the region.
What does this mean for you?
Starting January 1, 2026:
- Your recycling schedule and bin stay the same.
- Peel Region will still collect garbage, organics, and yard waste.
- For recycling bin and collection issues, contact GFL – Green For Life Environmental Inc. (the contractor hired to provide collection services) at:
- com/canadarecycles
- peelrecycling@gflenv.com
- 1-877-268-4351
- For other recycling program questions, contact Circular Materials at: customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or call 1-877-667-2626.
- For additional information, visit: ca/peelregion.
Why is this changing?
The Ontario government is moving to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model for recycling. This means businesses that create recyclable packaging are responsible for fully funding and managing recycling programs. The goal is to:
- Encourage companies to use more sustainable packaging
- Make recycling rules consistent across Ontario
- Improve recycling results
If you have additional questions, please review the FAQ posted below:
Recycling Changes in Peel
Starting 2026
Questions and Answers
(Based on current information provided by Circular Materials and is subject to change.)
GENERAL QUESTIONS (about changeover)
Q: What is happening with recycling next year?
- Effective January 1, 2026, Peel Region will transfer responsibility for recycling to Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit organization. This is a provincially mandated change that is happening across Ontario.
Residents will continue to use the same recycling bin and follow the same collection schedule – however, starting January 1, 2026, recycling-related information and service requests will be handled by Circular Materials and their contracted service provider, GFL – Green For Life Environmental Inc., instead of Peel Region.
Until December 31, 2025, residents should continue to contact Peel Region for recycling inquiries.
As of January 1, 2026, residents can contact GFL for recycling service issues (e.g. missed collection or bin issues) and Circular Materials for other recycling program/system questions.
- I’ve seen news articles about how this change is impacting other areas in Ontario. Do we need to be concerned, here in Peel?
- Although the responsibility for recycling is transferring to Circular Materials on January 1, 2026, the change for Peel residents is much smaller than in some other Ontario municipalities.
Peel residents will continue to use the same recycling containers and follow the same collection schedule.
Some cities are moving from weekly to bi-weekly collection. Others are changing from recycling boxes to large-sized recycling carts.
Circular Materials is responding with some operational updates, such as procuring medium-sized carts to support those municipalities who are moving to carts.
- Who is responsible for recycling as of January 1, 2026?
- Circular Materials will be responsible for managing recycling in Peel Region and municipalities across Ontario. This includes overseeing operations and service delivery through third-party providers.
- Why is the recycling program changing?
- This mandated change is part of the Ontario government’s shift to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model. Under EPR, producers – the companies that create recyclable packaging – are responsible for fully funding and managing recycling programs.
The new system is intended to standardize recycling services across Ontario and may result in more types of materials being accepted for recycling.
- When does this change begin?
- Responsibility for the recycling program transfers to Circular Materials on January 1, 2026. Since this date falls on a statutory holiday, there will be no waste collection. Recycling collection by GFL will begin on Friday, January 2, 2026. Residents can continue to contact Peel Region for recycling-related support until December 31, 2025.
- Where is this change happening?
- This change is happening across Ontario, including in Peel.
- How will recycling collection happen in January?
- Residents in Peel will continue to use their current blue recycling bins and follow their existing collection schedule. Starting in 2026, residents can visit circularmaterials.ca/peelregion for recycling-related information and assistance.
FINANCIAL / PROPERTY TAX RELATED
- Recycling is no longer a taxpayer funded program. Will there be a reduction in my property taxes?
- Peel staff has been preparing for the transition of the Blue Box program to Circular Materials since it was first announced in 2019. Officially, Peel’s blue box program transitioned in October of 2024, and those savings were applied in the 2025 operating budget, as well as seen in previous years’ operating budgets, as applicable. Added together, the blue box transition has resulted in $11.6 million in annual net operating savings. A breakdown of those savings is detailed in the chart below:
| Savings | |
| 2025 | $ 7.3 M |
| 2024 | $1.5 M |
| 2022 | $2.8 M |
| Total = | $11.6 M |
MISSED COLLECTION (as of Jan. 1, 2026)
- My recycling didn’t get picked up. Can Peel Region come and pick it up?
- Peel Region no longer manages recycling collection and cannot pick up recycling for you. Recycling is now managed by Circular Materials. You will need to reach out to GFL (the new recycling contractor hired by Circular Materials) for service issues with missed collection. Here’s their contact info:
Online Service Form: gflenv.com/canadarecycles
Email: peelrecycling@gflenv.com, Phone: 1-877-268-4351
BIN DAMAGE / REPAIRS
- My recycling bin is damaged. Can someone come and repair or replace it?
- Peel Region no longer manages recycling and can no longer service any recycling bin issues. Recycling is now managed by Circular Materials. You will need to reach out to GFL (the new recycling contractor hired by Circular Materials) for bin repairs or replacements. Here’s their contact info:
Online Service Form: gflenv.com/canadarecycles
Email: peelrecycling@gflenv.com, Phone: 1-877-268-4351
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUES
- I am upset about this change. Who should I speak to about it?
- The Ontario government has changed who is responsible for recycling. This mandated change is part of a new legislation called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that shifts the responsibility of recycling operations and costs to producers.
You can reach out to Circular Materials by email at customerservice@circularmaterials.ca or call 1-877-667-2626.
You can also consider contacting your local Member of Provincial Parliament. Details can be found by visiting: www.ola.org/en/members/current
- Will excess recycling be collected in 2026?
- Residents are being asked by Circular Materials to place all materials into their bins for collection as part of proper set out instructions and consider keeping extra recycling until your next recycling pickup day. Additional cart requests will be supported through a needs assessment process managed by Circular Materials.
Circular Materials is also considering a two-month transition period for extra recycling (outside of bins) in January-February.
For questions about extra recycling, you can reach out to GFL. Here’s their contact info:
Online Service Form: gflenv.com/canadarecycles
Email: peelrecycling@gflenv.com, Phone: 1-877-268-4351
If you cannot hold on to your extra recycling and need to dispose of it right away, Peel’s Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) accept recycling drop off free of charge (when you bring in recycling items only). For more information about Peel’s CRCs, visit: peelregion.ca/waste/crc.
COLLECTION SCHEDULE / CALENDAR / REMINDER NOTIFICATIONS
- Why is my recycling collection schedule missing from the online collection calendar on Peel’s website?
- As of January 1, 2026, recycling is managed by Circular Materials, instead of Peel Region. Circular Materials should share your 2026 recycling calendar soon. Please reach out to Circular Materials for information at customerservice@circularmaterials.caor call 1-877-667-2626.
In the meantime, continue to put your garbage and recycling out, following the same alternative weeks as 2025. There is no change to your recycling schedule for 2026. For example: whichever bin you put out the last week in December, you should put out the opposite bin the first week of January.
- Why is my recycling collection schedule missing from my phone/text/email notifications?
- As of January 1, 2026, recycling is managed by Circular Materials, instead of Peel Region. Circular Materials is planning to make a waste reminder app available to Peel residents. Please reach out to Circular materials for information at customerservice@circularmaterials.caor call 1-877-667-2626.
TOWNHOMES
- I live in a townhouse. How does this change impact me?
- As of January 1, 2026, recycling is managed by Circular Materials, instead of Peel Region. Recycling collection for townhomes is included in this change. Your recycling will be collected by GFL (the new recycling contractor hired by Circular Materials) and will continue to be collected in the same way. However, Circular Materials may revisit this in the future.
Should you need a new or replacement bin in 2026, your bin size may change. As of January 1, large 95 gallon / 360 L bins are available only (medium bins are being explored by Circular Materials, however, small bins are not available.)
- I live in a townhome and have weekly recycling collection. Will my collection schedule change in 2026?
- Yes. Your weekly collection will be changing to bi-weekly collection, which means your recycling will be collected every other week. Your recycling will continue to be collected in bags. However, Circular Materials may revisit this in the future. Your garbage will continue to be collected weekly by Peel Region.