Lots of water bottles grouped together with the camera showing the top quarter of them.

Recycling for Businesses & Non-Residential Properties

On November 20, 2025, Niagara Region approved the discontinuation of curbside recycling collection for Non-Eligible Sources (Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional properties), effective Thursday, January 1, 2026.

Non-eligible sources include:

Industrial properties
Commercial properties, such as retail stores, offices
Institutional properties, such as hospitals, schools not classified as residential
Places of worship
Non-profit organizations
Small businesses and community facilities

If your property currently receives recycling collection through Niagara Region, this service will end on Thursday, January 1, 2026. To ensure there is no interruption to your waste management needs, affected properties are encouraged to arrange private recycling services as early as possible.

Why is recycling collection changing?

These changes stem from the Province’s Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg. 391/21), which shifts responsibility for operating and funding Ontario’s residential recycling system to the producers who create packaging and paper products.

Because the updated program only applies to residential properties, non-residential locations — including businesses, places of worship, institutions, non-profits, and industrial sites — are no longer eligible for collection through the residential system. This means their recycling can’t be picked up alongside residential materials.

Discover a Solution That Works for You

To support businesses and other non-eligible sources as they transition away from the curbside recycling collection program, Niagara Region has compiled a list of private recycling service providers operating in the area.

We encourage you to reach out to these providers directly to discuss service options, pricing, and availability. Please note that this list is intended for informational purposes only and may not include all available providers. Niagara Region, the Town of Lincoln, Downtown Bench Beamsville BIA, and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce do not endorse or recommend any specific company.

Company Name	Address	Contact Information
Cotton Inc.	2125 Fruitbelt Parkway, Niagara Falls, ON L2J 0A5	905-262-2000
Environmental 360 Solutions	1786 Allanport Road, Thorold, ON L0S 1K0	905-384-2222
GFL Environmental Inc.	411 Glendale Avenue, St Catharines, ON L2P 3Y1	647-715-7481 / 1-855-971-4550
Halton Environmental Inc. (Emterra)	5030 Montrose Road, Niagara Falls, ON L2H 1K5	905-297-5243
Miller Waste Systems	335 Townline Road, NOTL, ON L0S1J0	1-833-621-0726
Modern Corporation – Waste and Recycling Solutions	2025 Fruitbelt Parkway, Niagara Falls, ON L2J 0A5	1-800-330-7107
Waste Connections of Canada	1789 Allanport Road, Thorold, ON L0S 1A0	1-888-250-3357
Waste Management Canada Corporation	124 Cushman Road, St Catharines, ON L2M 6T6	905-687-9605

Business and non-residential recycling can also be brought to landfill sites across the region.

Don't want to hire a collection company? Find an alternative solution below.

Don't Put Out Recycling

It will litter our community without pickup.

Hire Company or Bring to a Facility

Find a landfill site close to you.

Bring Recycling Home

Residential recycling schedule not affected.

FAQs

In June 2021, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) introduced a new Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg. 391/21: Blue Box) that makes producers fully responsible for collecting and recycling the packaging and paper products they supply to consumers.
The regulation requires producers to:
- Operate the residential recycling system
- Fund all residential recycling costs
- Meet material recovery targets
- Provide consistent service across Ontario
Municipalities no longer operate the residential Blue Box program.
- Niagara Region will stop recycling collection for non-eligible sources (NES) such as
  businesses, institutions, and places of worship.
- Collection contractors will consolidate under a single provider, Miller Waste Systems, for
  all residential recycling.
- A province-wide standardized material list will apply across Ontario.
  Expanded recycling list: new items like coffee cups, black plastics, flexible
  packaging, straws, and multi-laminate pouches will be accepted.
- Circular Materials has not indicated any changes to collection schedules or recycling
  containers at this time.
- The Region will continue providing garbage, green bin, yard waste and large-item
  collection.
- Recycling service continues for eligible residential properties under Circular Materials.
Eligible properties include:
- Low-density residential homes
- Multi-residential buildings
- Residential components of mixed-use buildings
- Public and private schools
- Certain long-term care and retirement homes
Industrial, Commercial & Institutional (IC&I) properties (e.g., businesses, places of worship, community organizations), also commonly referred to as Non-Eligible Sources (NES), are not eligible under the new Blue Box system.
The Town of Lincoln, Downtown Bench Beamsville BIA, and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce have all taken action to advocate for businesses in the area during this process ahead of the Regional vote.
- Letters were sent to the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, MPP Todd McCarthy.
- Beamsville BIA and Downtown St. Catharines Downtown Association delegated at the March 4 Niagara Region Public Works Committee Meeting.
- Worked with Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) to advocate for co-mingling of recyclables.
- A petition was created, signed by local businesses, and submitted to the Ontario Government.
Through these combined efforts, the Town and its partners continue to champion the interests of local businesses throughout the process.