Item - 2025.IE23.2

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to negotiate and execute any agreements and related documents necessary with Circular Materials (the Blue Box Program Administrator) and / or their designate to receive payment for incorporating curbside recycling collection day information provided by Circular Materials and / or their designate into the City of Toronto's waste collection schedule for up to 5 years starting with calendar distribution year 2026 on terms acceptable to the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, to report to the September 26, 2025 meeting of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the following:

a. Key messages for the shift of the Blue Box program away from the City collection including clear public messaging for City Councillors on the shift of the Blue Box program away from City collection;

b. Planned advertising venues and earned media related to the shift of the Blue Box program away from City collection;

c. A clear plan for what would happen when bins are left uncollected in January 2026, and snow storm contingency for collection;

d. A possible pilot looking for Blue Box contamination earlier than January 1, 2026; and

e. A clear communication plan for first 3 months of January 2026 that explains the changes in the Blue Box program and why this has happened.

The purpose of this staff report is to provide City Council with an update on their direction for staff to engage Circular Materials in discussions on the feasibility of collaborating on a cost-shared joint waste collection schedule to include recycling collection information for residential curbside collection customers in 2026 and/or future years. This report seeks delegated authority for the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, to enter into an agreement with Circular Materials for a joint collection schedule, should negotiations be successful.