Recycling

Changes to recycling collection

Recycling collection in Durham Region is now managed by Circular Materials, with Miller Waste contracted to provide recycling collection in Oshawa. Have a recycling question? Missed a collection? Need a new blue bin? Contact Miller Waste directly.

Contact Miller Waste

Blue box recycling program

Ontario's Blue Box program in Durham Region is managed by Circular Materials,  a not-for-profit that represents the producers and importers of the products and packaging collected in the blue box. Circular Materials contracts Miller Waste to collect recycling weekly in Oshawa.

Residents can still check their collection schedule by downloading the Durham Waste App or using the look-up tool to find it, set reminders, and print their collection calendar.

Blue Box material will still be accepted at Regional Waste Management facilities. Waste disposal fees apply

Not sure what goes in the blue bin?

Use the Know Before You Throw tool to correctly sort your waste!

General Guidelines

Use two or more blue boxes to separate your recyclables: one for containers and one for paper. Set your materials by the curb no later than 7 a.m. on the day of your collection and no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before.

  • Do not overload blue bins. Purchase additional boxes if needed, or use rigid open-top containers similar in size to a blue box.
  • Stack recycling boxes to prevent paper from blowing away.
  • Flatten smaller boxes (boxboard) and place them securely in your blue box
  • Place large, flattened and tied cardboard bundles securely on top or between your blue boxes.
  • Rinse all containers and ensure they are clean and free of grease, liquid or food.
  • During the winter, please set out blue boxes on cleared portions of your driveway and not on top of snow banks or icy patches.

Place these papers loosely in one blue box:
Mixed Papers
  • office papers, including cardstock, notepads, white or coloured loose paper, file folders, and other printed material
  • junk mail and envelopes
  • catalogues, newspapers, flyers, calendars, brochures and magazines
  • greeting cards and envelopes, gift wrap and boxes
Cardboard and boxboard
  • fold smaller boxes (boxboard) flat and place in the same blue bin as the papers above.
  • fold larger boxes (boxboard and cardboard) flat, then tie and bundle the same size as your blue box
  • cereal boxes, cardboard cartons, Amazon boxes, shoe boxes, and egg cartons
Coated paper packaging
  • flour bags
  • pet food bags
  • paper plates and bowls, paper straws, cardboard take-out containers
  • waxed paper and cardboard boxes
Flexible plastic packaging
  • cereal and cracker box liners
  • food and beverage pouches
  • bubble wrap and packaging
  • bags used for dry cleaning, bread, newspaper and flyers
  • overwrap (paper towel and toilet paper, beverage containers)
  • coffee bags or deli pouches, chip bags, milk bags and plastic gift bags

Be sure to empty, rinse and place these materials loose in one blue box:
Cartons
  • dairy and juice cartons
  • tetra pak beverage and cartons
  • juice boxes
Laminate containers
  • spiral can
  • paper coffee cups 
  • ice cream containers
Plastic bottles and containers
  • all plastic bottles with a twist-off top (lids left on)
  • clear moulded bakery item trays
  • clear cold drink cups and lids
  • clear plastic egg cartons
  • clear plastic fruit and vegetable containers
  • plastic tubs and lids (yogurt and ice cream type containers), up to 20 L in size
  • plastic takeout food containers
  • toothpaste tubes, deodorant, and hand cream tubes
Other recyclables
  • styrofoam© such as packaging materials, meat trays, containers and packaging peanuts
  • aluminum foil, pie plates and frozen food trays
  • empty aerosol cans with lids removed
  • glass bottles and jars (metal lids removed and placed in the blue box separately)
  • metal food and beverage containers

  • batteries
  • clothing and shoes
  • household hazardous waste
  • rigid plastic items such as children's toys, clothes hangers, plastic plates and utensils, watering cans
  • metal items such as pots, pans, metal coat hangers and scrap metal
  • books
  • diapers

Materials left at the curb?

For any recycling collection questions, including missed collections, replacement blue bins and collection schedules, contact Circular Materials' local recycling contractor:

Miller Waste
area8@millerwaste.ca
1-888-852-4723

Before calling to report a missed blue bin collection, please review common set out mistakes on the Waste Tips page. 

Blue box Lids

Service Oshawa, located at City Hall sells blue box lids for $13. For more information and operating hours, visit the Service Oshawa page.

Contact Us

Service Oshawa
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: service@oshawa.ca

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