North Durham businesses face recycling collection shake-up for 2026

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

NORTH DURHAM: Business owners across North Durham are being told they’ll soon need to handle their own recycling collections, as the region prepares to end blue box service for commercial properties.

The North Durham Chamber of Commerce issued an advisory this week, informing members, beginning next year, businesses will no longer be eligible to use the regular curbside blue box program. Instead, they must either hire a private recycling company or access a municipal service, if one is available.

The change which stems from Ontario’s shift to producer responsibility for recyclable materials, means blue box pickup will be limited to residential properties. Businesses and institutions, who wish to continue recycling, can still drop off materials at one of Durham Region’s waste management facilities, where the region will process them.

According to the advisory, Durham Region is exploring other options, but in the meantime, businesses will need to make their own arrangements for 2026 and beyond.

Scugog Mayor Wilma Wotten said, the change is a significant concern for small business owners who rely on consistent waste collection in downtown areas.

“Many of our small businesses are worried about the added costs and logistics,” Mayor Wotten said. “For large retailers, arranging private recycling may be manageable, but for independent shops and restaurants, it’s a real challenge.”

Mayor Wotten added, the situation is especially difficult in mixed-use areas, where businesses and residences share space.

“If you live above a business, the household recycling must still be collected, and in practical terms, it’s very hard to separate what’s residential from what’s commercial,” she said. “We’re asking the Region to keep that in mind as they look for solutions.”

Brock Mayor Mike Jubb agreed, municipalities are in a tough spot as they try to balance environmental responsibility with the realities of small business operations.

“Our local business owners already face enough challenges,” Mayor Jubb said. “Recycling shouldn’t become another burden on top of everything else.”

He added, regional council is working with staff to explore possible interim measures.

“We want to maintain a strong environmental focus while also supporting our small business community,” Mayor Jubb explained. “It’s important, whatever system replaces blue box collection is fair, affordable, and practical for communities like ours.”

Durham Region officials have indicated, they, are continuing discussions with Circular Materials, the organization now responsible for recycling collection, to identify potential alternatives. For now, however, it appears local business owners will be responsible for managing their own recycling pickup starting in 2026.