Recycling/Blue Boxes | Township of North Kawartha

As of January 01, 2024, the blue box program transitioned to “producer responsibility”; which means the County no longer manages or is responsible for the blue box recycling program. The blue box program across Ontario is now the responsibility of the companies that make or import recycling products (the Producer).

On behalf of the Producers, Circular Materials Ontario (CMO) now manages and is responsible for the blue box recycling program at the Curbside and in the Transfer Stations. CMO has contracted Emterra Environmental to continue with curbside collection in Peterborough County, in an attempt to lessen any impact to County residents.

The North Kawartha Transfer Stations will continue to collect blue box recycling from North Kawartha residents and businesses, as part of Producer Responsibility transition.

For complete information regarding the change, its implications, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our Blue Box Transition to Producer page.

For current Recycling Collection information including roads not travelled, acceptable materials, sorting guide, and a collection calendar, please visit the Circular Material's North Kawartha webpage.

North Kawartha | Circular Materials | Ontario

Blue Boxes

The Dual-Stream Recycling Program consists of one blue box for the collection of fibres, and one blue box for the collection of containers. Please keep fibres and containers in separate blue boxes as described in the Dual-Stream Recycling Program.
Standard blue box size is 47 litres (12 gallons), measuring 48cm x 40cm x 31cm or 19" x 16" x 13" (L x W x H).
There is no recycling limit for the number of blue boxes.
For Curbside Collection
Set out recycling before 7:00 am.
If the Contractor (Emterra) misses emptying your recycling blue box, please contact Emterra directly at 1-888-597-1541 as soon as possible. Reporting without delay will ensure that any concerns are addressed as they occur, through the use of Emterra's very sophisticated GPS tracking system.
If you missed your recycling collection you may put it out at your next collection day, or take it to the nearest transfer station. There is no fee for blue box recycling at the Transfer Stations.

Replacement/Obtaining Blue Boxes

Additional blue boxes are available by contacting Emterra Environmental at 1-888-597-1541, or can be picked up in-person at Emterra: 688 Harper Road, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X6. Please call in advance.

Please note: There is no replacement of broken bins at this time, however the matter is being reviewed and may differ in the near future.

Sorting

The sorting method applies to recycling for Curbside and at the Transfer Stations.

Acceptable Fibres

Cardboard boxes

Pizza boxes, direct mail boxes, moving boxes, shoe boxes.

Flatten. No larger than 60 x 60 cm.

Boxboard

Cereal boxes, tissue boxes, egg cartons, rolls from toilet paper and paper towel.

Flatten.

Empty.

Paper laminate packaging

Pet food bags, food service paper bags, and plates.

Empty and free from food residue.

Paper

Any colour, including flour bags, prescription bags, paper produce bags.

Notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, other printed materials.

Community newspapers, flyers, brochures and magazines.

Greeting cards and envelopes, gift boxes.

Empty.

Place shredded paper in a tied clear plastic bag.

Separate from plastic bags used to cover items, remove elastic bands.

Remove rope handle from bags.

Do not include soft or hard covered books/novels.

Flexible plastic packaging

Bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspapers and flyers. Overwrap (paper towel & toilet paper, beverage containers). Coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, snack wrappers, cereal liner bags, plastic gift bags.

Empty and free from food residue.

Acceptable Containers (please rinse out)

Glass containers

Clear and coloured glass. Food containers, jars and bottles. Cosmetic containers, spice bottles, oil and vinegar bottles.

Empty and free from food residue.

Lids and caps off.

Plastic containers

Laundry detergent and household cleaner jugs, shampoo, body wash, salad dressing, condiment, dish soap, mouth wash bottles.

Empty.

Lids and caps on.

Plastic food containers

Food trays, salad, yogurt, peanut butter, bakery and egg containers, plastic cups, plastic tubs and lids, black plastic containers.

Empty.

Lids and caps on.

Paper laminate containers

Spiral cans, cookie dough packages, ice cream containers/tubs, and hot and cold beverage cups.

Empty.

Remove lids.

Cartons

Dairy and dairy substitute cartons, molasses and sugar cartons, laundry and cleaning cartons, soup and sauce cartons, coffee cartons.

Rinse and dry.

Lids and caps on.

Aluminum (foils and trays)

Aluminum foil, pie plates, frozen food trays.

Rinse and dry.

Ball up aluminum foil.

Metal

Food cans, metal lids, candle, cookie, coffee and tea tins.

Rinse and dry.

Foam packaging

Meat trays, takeout containers, cups, plates, bowls, foam packaging for products.

Empty and free from food residue.

Remove film wrap and absorbent pads from meat trays.

Tubes

Toothpaste tubes, deodorant, hand cream tubes.

Empty.

Lids and caps on.

Small plastic containers

Small item packaging, hand sanitizer bottles, plant pots.

Empty.

Lids and caps on.
Aerosol containers

Food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream, deodorant.

Empty.

Lids and caps on.

Aerosols with toxic, corrosive or flammable symbols are not accepted with the exception of:

Cooking oil sprays and products designed for food.

Hairsprays, cosmetics and products designed to be used on hair/skin.