Blue Box Recycling
Blue Box Transition January 1, 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, the residential blue box program is evolving to a new standardized system that is fully funded and operated by producers of recyclable materials. By making the producers responsible, this Provincial program supports a circular economy, reducing operational and financial responsibilities for municipalities and making recycling easier across Ontario.
To learn what this means for Markham residents, see details below.
- Blue Box Transition January 1, 2026
The residential blue box program is evolving to a new standardized system that is fully funded and operated by producers of recycling materials. By making the producers responsible, the Provincial program supports a circular economy, reducing operational and financial responsibilities for municipalities and making recycling easier across Ontario.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the curbside collection and processing of blue box materials will be operated by Circular Materials Ontario.
Circular Materials is a national not-for-profit organization that builds efficient and effective recycling systems where materials are collected, recycled, and returned to producers to use as recycled content in new packaging and paper. As the administrator of Ontario’s common collection system, Circular Materials is responsible for operating the new system for blue box materials.To learn more, visit Circular Materials.
What does this mean for Markham?
Although the responsibility for the blue box recycling program is evolving to Circular Materials, there will be no change in how Markham residents continue to recycle in the blue box.
What You Need to Know:
- Collection schedules: No change.
- Curbside collection: No change.
- Small change, same great service!
- Starting January 1, 2026: All blue box-related inquiries, such as missed collections and requests for new or replacement blue boxes, must be made directly to Miller Waste, instead of Markham.
- Reduce Paper Waste in your Mailbox
Go Green, Go Digital!
Download your favorite digital flyers online so you can skip the paper flyers piling up in your mailbox.
Find all your favourite deals—anytime, anywhere. No paper. No clutter. No hassle.
Going digital means saying no to paper flyers and reducing the waste in your mailbox.Some examples of digital flyers and ads:
Ready to go green at your mailbox? It’s easy and it’s your choice!
Make the switch to paperless and stop receiving unwanted ad-mail altogether by placing a note inside your mailbox or submit a request to Canada Post.Consumers’ Choice
To stop receiving unaddressed advertising mail, Canada Post can help!
- Simply place a small note in your mailbox “No Flyers Please”
- Still getting flyers? Submit a request to Canada Post.
Even if you choose to be part of the Consumers’ Choice program, you will still receive:
- Government mailings – public interest newsletters, service alerts
- Materials from Elections Canada, provincial/territorial chief electoral officers and municipal election officials (or the deputy returning officer), including material from political parties and electoral candidates during an election
- Any addressed mail, including addressed advertising materials – such as Costco membership flyers
- Community newspapers (without commercial inserts/enclosures) – only inserts in the public interest are acceptable
Learn more about the Consumers' Choice program.
Bring It Home
Be a good neighbour and bring home all your mail including those unwanted advertising flyers. They simply go in your blue box at home.
Flyers left behind, stuffed in between mailboxes or on the ground creates litter that makes its way onto your streets and into your parks. Although, community mailboxes are owned and managed by Canada Post, picking up street and park litter is done by City staff and dedicated residents. Reducing litter reduces waste going to the landfill.
Canada Post Maintenance
Canada Post is also responsible for clearing the snow around the mailboxes and making them accessible.
How to report an issue at a mailbox location:
- To report mail-related litter, contact Canada Post at 1-866-607-6301 or canadapost.ca/support
- To report illegal dumping of household, contact Markham at 905-477-5530 or customer service@markham.ca
- Blue Box Guidelines
Collection
Blue box material is collected every week on your regular collection day.
Place your blue box at the curb by 7 AM on your collection day or after 7 PM the night before.
Reminders:
- Do not bag. Items must be loose in your blue box; bagged material can not be recycled.
- Plastic bags and Styrofoam are not accepted in the blue box. Recycle them at any Markham Recycling Depot for recycling
Prevent your blue box material from becoming litter
High winds can be challenging at the curb, knocking over bins, blowing recyclables into the streets, and ending up in the parks.
Follow these windy day tips:
- Put your blue box out in the morning of your collection day, not the night before.
- Don't overload; keep material below the rim; stack blue boxes if possible.
- Bundle newspapers and place them on top of the lighter items.
- Flatten and bundle small cardboard boxes (e.g., cereal, tissue boxes)
- Write your address on your blue boxes in permanent marker — this makes it easier for them to be returned if they blow away
Common items accepted in the blue box:
- All glass bottles, jars, jugs
- All paper products
- All plastic food trays, containers
- All plastic jugs, jars, bottles (#1-7)
- Aluminum foil/trays/plates/packets
- Cans
- Cardboard (bundled 2’x2x’x1’)
- Drink boxes/cartons
- Egg carton (paper/plastic)
- Milk cartons
- Paint cans (empty, lids removed)
- Spiral bound containers (chip can)
- Water bottles
- Yogurt containers (clean)
What Happens to my Blue Box Material?
The Region of York processes Markham's recyclable material. Find out what happens to your recycling once it leaves your curb.
Unaccepted Material
These items are recyclable but not in curbside blue box.
Recycle at Any Markham Recycling Depot:
- Batteries
- Electronics
- Styrofoam - Learn more about Styrofoam recycling.
- Plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, milk pouches
- Textiles - also at a Markham textile donation bin located across the City
- Metal pans
How to Get a Blue Box until December 31, 2025
You can buy blue boxes at any Markham Recycling Depot.
Exchange Policy
Broken or damaged Markham-branded blue boxes can be exchanged at the Markham Recycling Depots only. $5.50 fee applies. Kitchen containers cannot be exchanged.
Blue boxes are also available for purchase at these locations: (No exchanges)
- Community Centres
- Angus Glen Community Centre
- Centennial Community Centre
- Milliken Mills Community Centre
- Thornhill Community Centre
80 litres - $17.50 (prices effective Jan. 1, 2025)
Payment
Recycling Depots and Community Centres accept cheques or debit/credit cards.
The Civic Centre accepts cheques, debit/credit cards and cash.