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Community Update: New Provincial Recycling Pickup Program

On January 1st, Doug Ford’s province-wide recycling privatization plan came into effect. The province removed the City of Toronto from delivering the service and the responsibility for all residential recycling collection in Ontario was given to Circular Materials.
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On January 1st, Doug Ford’s province-wide recycling privatization plan came into effect. The province removed the City of Toronto from delivering the service and the responsibility for all residential recycling collection in Ontario was given to Circular Materials.
 
When first collection under this new model was scheduled to take place on January 2nd, entire streets and even neighbourhoods were missed and recycling bins were left out on the street for days without any clear communications about when residents could expect pick-up. That obviously wasn’t acceptable.
 
In response to the concerns we raised, both Premier Ford and the CEO of Circular Materials promised that things would get better.
 
Unfortunately, these issues have continued to persist into a fourth week with reports from across the city of more missed collections, including right here in midtown. There have even been reports of excess recycling including cardboard boxes and clear bags not being picked up as they normally would’ve been before.
 
This has left many people with overflowing bins, obstructed sidewalks, unanswered complaints, and zero public accountability.
 
You can click here to read this Toronto Life article outlining my concerns with recycling pick up in our community: "A provincial recycling truck collected one Toronto resident’s bin but skipped the rest of the street "

We have been actively working to get answers and action from Circular Materials, but we need a plan to address this systemic failure with the province.
 
I will be tabling a motion at Council to take the following actions:
 
Request the General Manager of Solid Waste Management Services to conduct enhanced monitoring of Circular Materials’ performance including:
  • Completeness and timeliness of collection
  • Frequency and location of missed or partial collections
  • Whether overflow recycling is being collected in accordance with provincial requirements
  • Any reductions or inconsistencies in service delivery reported by residents
  • Track and report on rates of recycling contamination, and assess whether service reductions or collection inconsistencies are impacting the City’s waste reduction and diversion goals
We are requesting that an update be provided at the next meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, including recommendations to ensure that residents are receiving the level of service mandated under Ontario’s Blue Box regulations.
 
Recycling pick up is a basic service that we all rely on. We need to hold Doug Ford accountable to fix what he broke. I am asking that you add your voice by signing our petition to restore reliable recycling pick-up. 
Click Here to Sign The Petition
Contact Circular Materials

Meanwhile, if you are experiencing issues with your recycling pick-up, inquiries including missed collection, recycling bin service requests and what to recycle can be directed to GFL by calling 1-888-921-2686 or by completing their online Inquiry Form. If you do not receive the support you require, you can contact Circular Materials’ escalations at 1-877-667-2626.

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