Business Waste
Business Recycling Program Update
As approved following the City’s budget process, the City of Hamilton will continue the collection of curbside blue box recycling from businesses and other non-residential properties, such as places of worship until January 2, 2027 to account for the full final collection week of the year. To be eligible for the continued collection program for the remainder of 2026, the property must have been receiving City collection prior to January 1, 2026.
Under Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg. 391/21), these properties are not eligible for Ontario’s new provincial Blue Box Program. Council approved the City to collect recycling from these properties until January 2, 2027, to account for the full final collection week of the year, to give businesses and other non-residential properties, such as places of worship, more time to plan for private recycling collection.
Business Recycling Program Update
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to January 1, 2026, both residential and non-residential blue box material could be collected in the same collection vehicle. Under Ontario’s Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg. 391/21), this is no longer permitted and requires separate collection vehicles, substantially increasing collection costs. The decision for the City to stop collecting non-residential recycling as of January 2, 2027, was based on the increased costs to the City and all tax payers to continue this service.
Current properties receiving City blue box recycling collection who are now deemed not eligible under the provincial Blue Box Regulation, including but not limited to:
- Businesses outside of BIAs
- Businesses within BIAs
- Campgrounds
- City facilities
- Day cares
- Special events
- Medical centres
- Non-profit organizations
- Places of worship
- Special Events
The service will end January 2, 2027.
Starting January 4, 2027, non-residential properties will need to arrange and pay for private recycling collection or another form of recycling disposal.
Garbage and green bin collection for these properties will continue as usual and is not affected by this change.
Important: Hamilton’s Waste By-law (20-221) does not allow recycling to be placed in the garbage, and commercial properties are limited to six bags of garbage per week.
Coming soon! Waste Management staff are preparing supportive information to assist businesses with preparing and transitioning to a new service provider once the City provided recycling collection ends.
- Garbage and green bin collection for these properties will continue as usual and is not affected by this change.
- For missed garbage or green bins please call 905-546-2489 (CITY) or email [email protected]
This applies to businesses or a non-residential portion of a building.
The residential portion of your mixed-use property has not changed. All garbage, green bin, yard waste and recycling will continue to be collected on your regular waste collection day. Visit residential blue box & recycling.
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