Recycling pick up changes start this week- no pick up for business; day may change for residents

Starting July 17, recycling collection will end for business non-profits, etc., and the pick up day may change for some County residents. Garbage and organics collection will not be affected by the change.

The province of Ontario is shifting responsibility for recycling. The blue box recycling program for the County will be managed by Circular Materials Ontario (CMO), which has selected E360 Solutions to provide blue box recycling collection service for Prince Edward County.

And while the good news is potential savings estimated at $890,700 last September for the municipality, (cost $1,105,000) the bad news is there will be upset.

The choices for those soon-to-be “ineligible” for recycling pick up will be to take it to one of the County’s waste transfer sites; take it home where recycling will still be picked up curbside, or to stop recycling altogether. Meanwhile, current statistics indicate that only about 30 per cent of Ontario’s waste actually gets recycled.

Circular Materials states it is developing a first-of-its-kind Material Access Program, which will return recycled material directly back to producers for use in new products and packaging. The hope is to create a closed loop supply chain, enabling producers to meet recycled content targets and goals across the country.

Click here to use the map to select your specific collection area. 

There is no longer collection for industrial, commercial and institutional properties in the County.

Those affected must now set up and cover costs for their own recycling systems by self-hauling recycling to a waste drop-off or obtaining private collection.

Recycling can be dropped off at Prince Edward County waste sites on Saturdays. Wellington, Sophiasburgh and Picton sites will also be open on Wednesdays for both waste and recycling collection. Separate bins will be available to accommodate industrial, commercial and institutional property owners who will be responsible for the disposal of their recycling after July 17, 2025.

No longer receiving collection are:
All private sector businesses
Not-for -profit organizations
Municipal buildings or facilities
Daycares
Places of worship
Campgrounds and trailer parks (without permanent or seasonal households)
Commercial farms

Mixed use properties

Only eligible portions of mixed-use properties will have recycling collected by E360 Solutions. For example, residential portions of a mixed-use building will be collected; however, commercial portions will need to take their recycling to the nearest municipal waste site or arrange for private pickup.

It is unknown how E360 Solutions will be able to determine between business and residential collections in these areas (such as downtown Main streets).

Councillors expect upset as people learn business recycling pick up will end