I am writing to demand the Government of Ontario immediately fix the failed privatized recycling program and restore reliable, accountable recycling collection for our communities.
One month into the Ford government’s privatization plan to remove the this basic service from municipalities and hand it over to Circular Materials, neighbourhoods across Toronto and Ontario have been left stranded waiting for recycling pickup. Entire streets have been missed, and we have been left with overflowing bins, unanswered complaints, and no clear accountability.
This disruption is the direct result of the Ford government removing recycling collection from municipal responsibility and handing it to a separate operator, Circular Materials. What was once a reliable public service has been replaced with confusion, poor customer service, and inconsistent pickup.
To make matters worse, Circular Materials has now announced it will no longer collect alcohol bottles or books, and in some municipalities will not be collecting extra recycling placed in clear bags. This new program offers less service, less accountability, and more frustration than what we had before.
Waste and recycling collection is a basic service that we pay for through our taxes. It should be reliable, well-run, and locally accountable. The Ford government broke a system that worked, and our communities deserve better.
We are calling on the province to:
- Fix the failed rollout immediately
- Hold Circular Materials accountable for missed pickups and poor service
- Restore reliable, publicly accountable recycling collection for Ontario residents