As we mentioned in our June 10, 2025, blog, both the federal and provincial governments are changing their environmental focus. This trend continues with changes to Ontario’s Blue Box regulations.
Background on Ontario’s Blue Box Program
On April 14, 2022, O. Reg. 349/22: Blue Box, under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, was amended. These amendments were scheduled to take effect in 2026. The Blue Box Regulations would have (among other things) required producers to expand the collection of blue box materials. These materials include glass, plastic, metal, and paper. The financial and logistical responsibility would have shifted from municipalities and First Nations to Producer Responsibility Organizations (PRO).
Proposed Changes
According to the Law Firm Dentons “On June 4, 2025, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (Ministry) proposed several amendments to the Blue Box Regulation to (i) both delay the implementation of and reduce materials management requirements; (ii) abandon the previously planned expansion of the blue box program; and (iii) remove the printed educational material requirement.”
The PROs would have been required to expand blue box collection to multi-residential buildings, schools, specified long-term care homes, and retirement homes.
On September 5, 2025, amendments to Ontario’s Blue Box Regulations were finalized (Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash).
Amendments Finalized
On September 5, 2025, the amendments were finalized. The amendments include:
- Maintaining existing recovery targets for paper, glass, metal, and rigid plastic, and deferring target increases until 2032.
- Phasing in recovery targets for flexible plastics, starting at 10% in 2026–27, increasing to 15% in 2028–31, and reaching 25% in 2032 and onward.
- Removing the “away from home” requirement for beverage containers, and deferring target increase to 2032.
- Requiring “best efforts” to meet targets in 2026 and 2027, all collected materials to be sent to a registered processor, and PROs and processors to submit a report to RPRA in 2027 on diversion performance to assess progress.
- Deferring collection from multi-residential buildings, schools, and specified long-term care homes and retirement homes that did not previously receive municipal Blue Box service until 2031.
- Removing the requirement to expand collection in public spaces.
- Allowing up to 15% of a producer’s management obligation to be met through energy recovery from residuals of the recovery process, in limited circumstances.
- Clarifying technical requirements.
Why the Change
According to the CBC, “The Canadian Retail Council estimates that producer costs have already increased by about 350 per cent in three years and would nearly double again just from this year to next if no changes were made to the impending new rules for 2026.”
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks says the changes are intended to manage “higher than expected cost growth” and ensure a “stable and sustainable” blue box system during the province’s transition to full producer responsibility (Penticton Herald).
We will continue to provide environmental regulatory updates in our blogs, compliance tips, and newsletters.
Environmental Assistance
If you need assistance with environmental assessments, permitting, management, etc., we can help. Contact Christopher Paré, P.Geo, at 519-948-7300, Ext. 114, for more information.
Alan Hahn drafted this blog. Alan has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and completed a graduate program in Environmental Management. He has worked in environmental management for more than 45 years. He has written hundreds of blogs and articles. His published work includes HazMat Magazine, BizX Magazine, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, GreenStone Partners, Manure Manager Magazine, and Progressive Dairy.
Christopher Paré, P.Geo, reviewed this blog. Chris is a senior geoscientist and manager of Dragun’s Windsor, Ontario, office. Chris has more than 30 years of experience on projects ranging from environmental site assessments (Phase One/Two ESA), excess soils, remedial investigations, soil and groundwater remediation, Permits to Take Water, Records of Site Conditions, vapour intrusion, and site decommissioning. Chris is a frequent speaker, author, and expert witness. See Chris’ bio.
Follow Dragun Corporation on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook.
Sign up for our monthly environmental newsletters.
Principled Foundation | Thoughtful Advice | Smart Solutions
Established in 1988