By the end of November, Petrolia residents should have their new blue boxes for recycling as a provincial change comes into effect in the new year.
As part of Ontario’s transition to a new extended producer responsibility blue box program, Petrolia's contractor for recycling collection will switch from Waste Management to Emterra as of January 1, 2026.
Each Petrolia resident will receive two (80 litre) blue boxes from Emterra to use next year. In the meantime, residents will continue to use the rolling bins until December 31.
"The rolling bins with the yellow lids physically belong to Waste Management. So Waste Management will collect those bins in the new year," said Town of Petrolia CAO and Treasurer Rick Charlebois.
The upcoming change only affects recycling containers. Residents will continue to use the rolling bins (with a green lid) for waste collection.
However, all commercial properties will continue to use Waste Management bins with the yellow lids for recycling.
Charlebois said Petrolia (along with several other Ontario municipalities) has not been responsible for recycling collection since January 1, 2024.
He said the advantages of having the province oversee this program include the standardization of what can and cannot be recycled, and having it funded by Canadian producers that supply packaging and paper materials to Ontario consumers.
Further details about the recycling program change can be found on Circular Materials' website.
