Simcoe County Pushes Back on Blue-Box Excuses as Recycling Woes Continue
Simcoe County councillors took aim at Circular Materials this week, voicing mounting frustration over ongoing disruptions to the new provincial blue-box recycling program since its January launch — and showing little patience for explanations blaming weather and the holiday season.
Al Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials, the not-for-profit organization overseeing Ontario's shift to producer-run recycling, appeared before the county's committee of the whole by video on Tuesday. He delivered program updates and took questions — but several councillors were ready for him.
A rocky rollout
The transition is part of a provincewide overhaul moving residential recycling responsibility away from municipalities and into the hands of producer-run organizations. Langdon called it the largest such shift ever undertaken in Canada, noting that Circular Materials has been managing the changeover since 2023 and now services more than five million homes across the province.
He acknowledged the bumpy start. "While many communities have had a seamless recycling experience, some have undoubtedly experienced collection and change management challenges," he said, pointing to weather-related delays, a road salt shortage, and a post-holiday spike in volumes as key culprits.
That explanation didn't go over well.
"Winter happens every year"
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin didn't hide her skepticism. "I just want to let you know that here in Simcoe County, Christmas happens every year, and we live in a snow belt and winter happens every year as well," she said pointedly.
Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke also pushed back on the salt shortage claim, noting the county hadn't faced any such issue this winter.
Dollin pressed further, noting that missed collections are still occurring even as the initial chaos subsides. "We have been hearing of less issues — misses are still happening," she said. "You talk about meeting your obligations and responsibilities, and that's fair, but in the municipal world, that's our bottom. We aim to meet or exceed expectations and obligations."
She also raised a looming challenge: Simcoe County's summer population surge. As cottage country and a major tourist destination, the region can see its residential base triple in warmer months. "And, just a heads up, summer happens in Simcoe County, too," she said, pressing for a clear plan to handle the overflow.
By the numbers
Langdon said Circular Materials serves roughly 80,000 households in Simcoe County. He reported that missed collections came in at under 0.4 per cent in January, dropping to below 0.1 per cent in February. The goal, he said, is to resolve any missed pickup by end of day or within one business day.
He also addressed contamination, noting that in some areas as much as 35 per cent of collected material is actually garbage. "That means one in three trucks going into processing facilities is full of garbage," he said, adding that reducing contamination is essential to producing quality recycled material that can be turned into new packaging.
The broader ambition, Langdon said, is a true circular economy — one where materials are kept in use through reuse, recycling and recovery rather than discarded. Circular Materials is also investing in packaging innovation and a material access program aimed at eventually returning processed material back to producers.
What's next
Langdon said the organization will continue meeting regularly with municipal officials and is planning a working group session for March 25. He assured councillors there would be no changes to how overflow materials are collected in Simcoe County under the new system.
Whether those assurances satisfy local elected officials — many of whom are still fielding complaints from residents — remains to be seen.
