The transition of recycling collection from a municipal to a provincial responsibility in Ontario has hit a snag in its first week, leaving some Toronto residents with overflowing blue bins. The CEO of the new provincial provider, Circular Materials, has apologized for the service failures that affected specific districts in Canada's largest city.
Missed Pickups and Apologies
Allen Langdon, CEO of Circular Materials, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that a subset of households in Toronto's Districts 2 and 3 did not receive their special post-holiday recycling collection on January 2 and 3. Collection for the affected areas began on Monday, January 5, and is continuing throughout the week to clear the backlog.
"We apologize for any inconvenience and thank residents for their patience and continued engagement," Langdon stated. The service provider, GFL Environmental, has mobilized additional collection trucks and is prioritizing the impacted zones.
Which Areas Were Affected?
The service gaps impacted specific parts of two large districts. According to Langdon, the affected areas include:
- District 2: West of Yonge Street, from the Humber River east to Yonge Street, extending from Steeles Avenue south to Lake Ontario.
- District 3: East of Yonge Street, from Yonge Street east to Victoria Park Avenue, also extending from Steeles Avenue south to Lake Ontario.
The change, which took effect on January 1, 2026, means City of Toronto workers are no longer responsible for picking up blue bins, marking a significant shift in how recycling is handled in the province.
Political Reaction and Accountability
The rollout problems quickly drew political fire. When questioned by reporters on Monday, Premier Doug Ford addressed the service failure, indicating a willingness to adjust the new system. "The company that’s doing it … make no mistake, if it doesn’t work, we’ll change it," Ford said. "That’s what we’re going to try, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll change it."
Toronto City Councillor Josh Matlow was not satisfied with the Premier's remarks. On Tuesday, he took to social media platform X to voice his constituents' frustrations. "Doug Ford keeps having to clean up after his own mess," Matlow wrote. "Torontonians want their basic services, like recycling pickup, to be delivered with reliability and clear accountability."
Earlier, Matlow had called the situation "completely unacceptable," noting he had heard from several residents whose recycling was not collected. He emphasized that he was bringing concerns directly to the company, the province, and the mayor's office, stating this is a basic service all residents rely on.
The rocky start highlights the challenges of overhauling a major municipal service. As Circular Materials and GFL Environmental work to resolve the collection delays, all eyes will be on the provincial government to ensure the promised reliability of the new recycling system is swiftly delivered.
