Recycling | Municipality of Kincardine

Beginning January 1, 2026

Ontario's Blue Box Transition

Like all municipalities across Ontario, the Municipality of Kincardine transitioned to the Province’s new producer-led recycling system on January 1, 2026. Under Ontario’s new producer-led recycling system, the Municipality of Kincardine no longer manages residential recycling or the Blue Box program.

Recycling is now funded and managed by the producers of recyclable materials. Waste Management Canada, on behalf of Circular Materials Ontario, oversees the program, and Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR) provides curbside blue box collection.

All recycling questions or concerns - including collection schedules, blue boxes, accepted materials, frequency, or service issues - must be directed to Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR), not the Municipality. Contact BASWR at 1-800-794-9770.

Eligible Sources for Curbside Recycling Collection

Under the new provincial system, only Eligible Sources — residential properties that currently receive curbside waste collection — will continue to receive Blue Box recycling pickup. These include:

Single-family homes (detached houses, semi-detached homes, townhouses)
Multi-residential properties who currently receives curbside recycling pick-up
Residents already using a Blue Box can continue to use their existing containers

Essentially, all residential properties in the Municipality of Kincardine are eligible for curbside collection under the new program. This provincially mandated transition will simplify recycling across Ontario. More materials will be accepted at the curb, creating a consistent and efficient province-wide system.

2026 Curbside Recycling Accepted Materials

You can recycle more than ever before in your curbside recycling, including corrugated cardboard, flexible plastics, coffee cups, foam meat trays and more.

All blue box materials will need to be sorted into two streams: Fibres and Containers. Bookmark Circular Materials - Kincardine for the most up to date list of accepted materials.

2026 Approved
Recycling List PDF

Circular Materials
Kincardine site

Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN)

The Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN) is a community-led organization focused on reducing waste, supporting a circular economy, and encouraging more sustainable practices in Kincardine. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships, KEAN works to help residents, businesses, and organizations take practical steps - big and small - to lessen their environmental footprint.

KEAN supports initiatives such as waste reduction and reuse, repair and skill-sharing, responsible recycling, and community education around sustainability. To learn more about KEAN’s initiatives, programs, and ways to get involved, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.

TerraCycle

TerraCycle is an international organization that tackles waste others can’t - recycling items that are traditionally considered non-recyclable. Many TerraCycle programs (called brigades) are brand-specific, so it’s important for participants to carefully check what materials are accepted.

In Kincardine, dedicated volunteers have been recycling through TerraCycle for over 15 years, diverting thousands of pounds of waste from landfill. Thanks to their efforts, a wide range of household items from cigarette butts, to Brita filters, to Swiffer cloths, to snack pouches have been given a second life as park benches, paving stones, garbage cans and more.

Industrial, Commercial, Institutional

Non-Eligible Sources

Starting January 1, 2026, industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) properties will no longer be eligible for Ontario’s curbside Blue Box program. This category includes:

All private businesses, including downtown shops and offices
Churches and places of worship
Daycares
Campgrounds without housing
Public buildings such as libraries, arenas, municipal shops, and administrative facilities
Commercial farms
Non-profits, including shelters, food banks, and other institutions

ICI properties will need to make alternative arrangements for recycling. Options include drop-off at the Non-Eligible Sources Program at the Armow Waste Management Centre (WMC) or establishing collection through a private service provider.

The Municipality continues to offer the following services and programs for non-eligible sources, including extended hours and select recycling programs.

To accommodate businesses and non-eligible users, the Municipality of Kincardine's Waste Management Centre (437 Sideroad 15, Armow) will offer extended hours in addition to regular operations.

Regular Hours (unchanged):

Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Closed on Statutory Holidays, including Easter Monday and the Civic Holiday.

Expanded Hours (for non-eligible sources only):

Monday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 7:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Tipping Fee: $1.65 per kg (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)

The types of recyclables for ICI's has expanded but is slightly different than residential recycling. See the new list of recyclables for non-eligible properties below. This list is subject to change.

On December 1, 2020, the Municipality of Kincardine partnered with Second Wind Recycling, for the Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Recycling Service Project.

Commonly referred to as Styrofoam, EPS is largely used in packaging and food service products. The petroleum based material is composed of 95% air and is not biodegradable. Due to its fragility and low weight, it is a common pollutant in the natural environment. EPS has become even more prevalent with the growth of e-commerce and bulk shipping.

Accepted materials must be clean and dry. All tape, plastic, stickers, cardboard and other contaminants attached to the foam must be removed and dropped off at the Kincardine Waste Management Centre at 437 Sideroad 15.

White, rigid, expanded EPS packaging will be accepted. This packaging is commonly from:

Computers
Electronics
Appliances

EPS materials that are not accepted include:

Take-out food containers
Meat trays
Coffee cups
Disposable dishware
Packing peanuts/popcorn
Construction insulation, blue and pink
Polyethylene and Polypropylene packaging
Foam bags & wrapping
Hot tub cover inserts
Pool noodles

Please get to know which film plastics are acceptable - and not acceptable - for collection in this program. Please remove all food residue, paper/receipts, stickers, and rigid plastic.

Accepted Film Plastic

Retail and Packaging Bags

Only clean, dry, and empty plastic bags identified by recycling symbols with the numbers 2 or 4 are accepted. Examples of this are:

Grocery and retail bags
Newspaper and flyer bags
Dry cleaning bags
Electronic equipment bags

Food and Produce Bags

Bread
Fresh vegetable and produce bags
Frozen vegetable
Bulk goods
Milk outer bag

Product Packaging and Wrap

Water softener and salt bags with their rigid plastic handles removed
Toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel overwrap
Diaper and feminine hygiene product outer bags
Bottled water and soda case overwrap
Soil, mulch, etc. garden product bags that are clean and empty

Not Accepted through the Film Plastic Recycling Program

Unclean items with food or dirt residue
Packaging in contact with meat or dairy
Biodegradable or compostable plastic
Crinkly, non-stretch wrap, packaging, and bottle seals
Agricultural bale, boat, and shrink wrap
Beverage rings
Stretch cling wrap
Chip, cookie, chocolate, and snack bar wrappers
Bubble wrap
Zipper lock and resealable bags

Frequently Asked Questions

Changes to the Blue Box program are being implemented by the Province of Ontario and Circular Materials, not the Municipality of Kincardine. Questions about what is or isn’t accepted for recycling should be directed to Circular Materials or the Province.

Questions or concerns?

If you’d like to report an issue, share feedback about your experience with the new Blue Box system, or submit a service-related concern for the Municipality to be aware of, please use our Make a Service Request form so it can be tracked and responded to appropriately.

Why is the Blue Box program changing?

The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has introduced new legislation that shifts the financial and operational responsibility for recycling from municipalities to the producers of the packaging.

This new collection model aligns with the Blue Box Regulation made under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act and is a key part of the province's Strategy for a Waste Free Ontario: Building the Circular Economy.

The new consolidated system of collection is designed to create efficiencies across the province by standardizing what is recycled and reduce waste going into our landfills.

Can I use a rolling cart for my recyclables?

Waste Management will be taking over managing collection. At this time, they aren’t offering larger roll-out bins, and their trucks aren’t equipped to pick them up. Whether larger bins become available in the future depends on Waste Management as they update their fleet, so we encourage you to reach out to them if that’s something you’d like to see.

For now, the smaller blue boxes will remain in place for curbside collection through 2026. If you require a blue box, you may purchase recycling bins at the Municipal Administration Centre at 1475 Concession 5, Kincardine, or at your local hardware store. Alternatively, you are able to use rigid containers with handles and drainage holes.

Will there be changes to my collection schedule?

Curbside collection will continue on the same schedule and at the same bi-weekly frequency for 2026. Visit Collection Schedule | Municipality of Kincardine for the 2026 Collection Schedule and Collection Map.

Bookmark Circular Materials - Kincardine for the most up to date blue box information, including collection schedules.

What is accepted in my Blue Box?

Visit Kincardine | Circular Materials | Ontario for a list of accepted materials, sorting guides, tips and more.

Who do I contact if my collection is missed?

All eligible source recycling questions or concerns - including collection schedules, blue boxes, accepted materials, frequency, or service issues - must be directed to Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR), not the Municipality. Contact BASWR at 1-800-794-9770.

If you miss your collection date, please hold on to your recyclables until your next collection date.

What is happening to the carboard recycling depots?

Under the new provincial legislation, convenience depots will no longer be supported. As a result, all public recycling depots are closing effective December 31, 2025.

Corrugated cardboard will be accepted in residential curbside recycling collection starting January 1, 2026. Cardboard boxes must be flattened and bundled (60 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm). Place them next to your blue box.

Visit Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling's What Can I Recycle? webpage.

Can I still bring my recyclables to the Waste Management Centre?

No, the Armow Waste Management Centre (WMC) will no longer accept Blue Box materials from eligible residential sources. All recycling must be placed in your curbside Blue Bin collection.

What is Extended Producer Responsibility?

Extended producer responsibility, or EPR, is a policy approach in which producers – the businesses that supply packaging and paper – are financially responsible and accountable for those materials over their full life cycle. Read more at Producers | Circular Materials

Resources

BASWR

Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling provides residential curbside blue box collection.

An aerial view of the Kincardine Waste Management Centre.

Armow Landfill

The Kincardine Waste Management Centre is located at 437 Sideroad 15, Armow.

Circular Materials

Circular Materials manages Ontario’s producer-led Blue Box recycling program.