Residents reminded: City doesn’t manage residential recycling
(Barrie, ON) – Under the provincial Blue Box Regulation, Barrie’s residential recycling program is managed by Circular Materials, a not-for-profit organization that oversees Ontario’s recycling collection system. Starting in 2026, Ontario residents will be able to recycle more materials than ever before and recycle the same materials no matter where they live in the province.
Examples of some of the materials that will be accepted for recycling as of January 1, 2026 include:
- Paper coffee cups
- Flexible plastic packaging (coffee bags, chip bags, snack wrappers, etc.)
- Paper plates
- Plastic cutlery
- Toothpaste tubes
- Black plastic containers (such as plant pots)
Barrie residents can get the most up-to-date recycling collection schedules, accepted materials, and recycling tips at CircularMaterials.ca/barrie. For recycling-related inquiries, residents are encouraged to contact:
- Emterra (for inquiries or concerns related to missed collection, what you can recycle, or new/replacement boxes): customercareont@emterra.ca | 1-888-597-1541
- Circular Materials (for general recycling questions and escalated issues): customerservice@circularmaterials.ca| 1-877-667-2626
The City continues to manage recycling collection for registered business/institutional properties and organics, garbage, and yard waste collection for residential and registered business/institutional properties. The City also continues to accept blue/grey box recycling materials at the Barrie landfill.
For more information about Ontario’s new recycling system, visit CircularMaterials.ca/RecycleOntario.