As of January 1, 2026, Ontario’s Blue Box Program has completed the transition to full producer responsibility of packaging, paper products and packaging-like products and municipalities are no longer responsible for operating or funding the program.
The transition of the Blue Box Program is part of the Ontario government’s circular economy initiative under which producers are required to be financially responsible and accountable for their products and packaging when consumers are finished using them.
The legacy program operated by Stewardship Ontario wound up on December 31, 2025. This followed the transition of all participating municipalities and First Nation communities to the producer-run framework, concluding the multi-year process that started on July 1, 2023. For questions about the end of Stewardship Ontario’s operations, refunds for 2025 steward fees, or upcoming Municipal Funding Allocation Model (MFAM) payments, please contact Stewardship Ontario at [email protected].
Circular Materials is the organization responsible for operating the Blue Box collection system on behalf of producers. For questions specific to Blue Box collection, visit Circular Materials’ website and type in your community name.
For more information about the producer-run program, visit our Blue Box Program Operated by Producers page.