Recycling Racket Exposed: Who REALLY Pays for Windsor's New Bins?

Windsor's shiny new recycling bins hide a murky truth: who's paying for the old ones? Mayor Dilkens claims taxes are out, but is the cost just buried in product prices? We demand answers!
By Newsroom | Local News, Environment |

A WINDSOR-ESSEX RECYCLING PUZZLE: NEW BINS ARRIVE, OLD ONES LINGER, AND QUESTIONS REMAIN

The shiny new blue bins are rolling into Windsor-Essex homes, promising a streamlined recycling future. But as residents embrace this provincial overhaul, a critical question looms: what happens to the old, now-obsolete recycling containers? While the City of Windsor and Circular Materials have launched a program to collect these cast-offs, a closer look reveals a complex system with lingering questions about costs, transparency, and who truly benefits from this massive shift. Are we just swapping one set of bins for another, or is this a genuine step towards a more sustainable future?

THE BIG RECYCLING SHIFT: A PROVINCE-WIDE OVERHAUL

Ontario has mandated a sweeping change to its recycling program, placing producer responsibility squarely on companies like Circular Materials. This new system, officially kicking off in January 2026, aims to standardize what can and cannot be recycled across the province. For Windsor-Essex, this means goodbye to the familiar red and blue boxes, and hello to a single, large blue cart on wheels.

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Whether red or blue, Windsor offers pickup of old recycling bins - 1

  • Key Dates:

  • January 2026: New provincial recycling system officially begins.

  • February 8, 2026: Registration deadline for old bin pickup in Windsor.

  • Early February 2026: Two-week period for old bin collection in Windsor.

  • April 1, 2026: Drop-off program for old bins at EWSWA depots ends.

  • What's Changing:

  • Single-Stream Recycling: All accepted recyclables will go into one bin, no more sorting into red and blue boxes.

  • New Bins: Residents receive new, larger blue carts free of charge.

  • Producer Responsibility: Companies like Circular Materials are now responsible for managing the recycling system, funded by producers of packaging and paper products.

  • Collection Service: GFL Environmental Inc. is contracted by Circular Materials to handle the actual collection.

THE FATE OF THE OLD BINS: A "WINDSOR-MADE SOLUTION" OR A CONVENIENT OVERLOOK?

As the new blue bins land on doorsteps, the question of what to do with the old ones becomes pressing. The City of Windsor and Circular Materials have partnered to offer a collection program for these redundant bins. Residents are urged to register online or by calling 311 for a scheduled pickup, with a deadline of February 8, 2026.

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  • The "Solution":

  • Registration Required: Residents must sign up for old bin pickup.

  • Pickup Window: A two-week collection period will occur in early February 2026.

  • Drop-off Option: An alternative is to drop off old bins at Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) depots until April 1, 2026.

But this "Windsor-made solution" raises eyebrows. While Jim Leether, Windsor's Senior Manager of Environmental Services, suggests residents can reuse their old carts, the official push is for their disposal through the new program. Why the urgency to collect them if reuse is a viable option? And who bears the cost of this collection and disposal effort? Is it absorbed by Circular Materials as part of their producer responsibility, or are municipal funds being quietly rerouted?

Whether red or blue, Windsor offers pickup of old recycling bins - 2

"Registered residents will receive their pickup date via email. You can also call 311 to register for a pickup." (am800cklw.com)

"Circular Materials and the Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) also have a drop-off program open until April 1, so residents can return their old bins at EWSWA depots." (CBC News)

WHO'S REALLY PAYING? THE PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PUZZLE

Circular Materials is meant to operate under an "extended producer responsibility" framework. This means the companies that produce the packaging and paper products are supposed to foot the bill for their collection and recycling. Mayor Drew Dilkens has explicitly stated that "property taxes are no longer paying for recycling collection in Windsor-Essex."

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But is this entirely true, or is it a carefully worded simplification? If Circular Materials is indeed funding the new bins, the collection services via GFL Environmental, and the pickup of old bins, then the costs are being passed down the chain to consumers through the price of goods. What assurances do we have that the true cost of this entire transition – including the disposal of old bins – isn't simply being hidden in the price of everyday products?

Whether red or blue, Windsor offers pickup of old recycling bins - 3

  • Funding Breakdown (Alleged):

  • New Bins & System: Funded by Circular Materials (representing producers).

  • Collection Service: Contracted by Circular Materials to GFL Environmental.

  • Old Bin Collection: A joint initiative between the City and Circular Materials.

The crucial question remains: who is ultimately absorbing the cost of collecting and processing these old bins? Is it an unforeseen expense for Circular Materials, or was it a budgeted line item from the start? If it wasn't, how is it being covered?

THE EVOLVING DEFINITION OF "RECYCLABLE": WHAT'S IN, WHAT'S OUT?

Beyond the logistics of bins, the very definition of what can be recycled is undergoing a significant transformation. The new system aims for a broader acceptance of materials, but this expansion comes with caveats.

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Whether red or blue, Windsor offers pickup of old recycling bins - 4

  • Accepted Materials (New System):

  • Paper, cardboard, newspapers, catalogues

  • Cartons

  • Plastic containers

  • Metal containers

  • Glass bottles and jars

  • Hot and cold beverage cups

  • Deodorant and toothpaste tubes

  • Plastic ice cream tubs

  • Black plastic containers

  • Frozen juice containers

  • Non-Recyclable Items (Still):

  • Diapers

  • Ceramics

  • Toys

  • Books (Note: this contradicts some common recycling guidelines and warrants further investigation)

This expanded list is presented as a benefit, but what are the implications for the actual processing? Are the sorting facilities equipped to handle this wider array of materials efficiently? And what is the environmental impact of the newly accepted items, like "deodorant and toothpaste tubes"? Are they truly being recycled into valuable new products, or are they being downcycled or even sent to landfill if the processing chain isn't robust enough?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OLD BINS? UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

The collection program for old bins is a reactive measure. But what is the ultimate destination of these thousands of plastic containers? Are they being recycled into new products, perhaps even new bins? Or are they being shredded and repurposed in less environmentally conscious ways, or worse, ending up in landfills?

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  • Key Questions Unanswered:

  • What is the exact cost of the old bin collection program?

  • Who is directly paying for this collection and processing?

  • What materials are the old bins made from, and are they compatible with existing or new recycling streams?

  • Will the old bins be recycled into new products, or simply downcycled or disposed of?

  • Why were books initially listed as unrecyclable under the new system, and is this an error?

The transition to a new provincial recycling system is a monumental undertaking. While the new blue bins signify progress, the handling of the old ones and the true financial architecture behind this shift demand closer scrutiny. Transparency is key, and as free-thinkers and investigative journalists, it's our duty to keep asking the tough questions until all the pieces of this recycling puzzle fall into place.

Sources:

  1. Another bin? What Ontario's new recycling system means for Windsor-Essex homes

  2. https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/another-bin-what-ontarios-new-recycling-system-means-for-windsor-essex-homes

  3. City, Circular Materials launching program to collect old recycling bins in Windsor

  4. https://www.am800cklw.com/news/city-circular-materials-launching-program-to-collect-old-recycling-bins-in-windsor.html

  5. Reduce, reuse, recycle — and repurpose. What to do with your existing bins | CBC News

  6. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/recycling-ontario-bins-what-to-do-windsor-essex-9.6948316

  7. Blue and red box recycling services in Windsor-Essex to change this summer

  8. https://www.am800cklw.com/news/blue-and-red-box-recycling-services-in-windsor-essex-to-change-this-summer.html

  9. Windsor | Circular Materials | Ontario

  10. https://www.circularmaterials.ca/resident-communities/windsor/

  11. Waste and Recycling | City of Windsor

  12. https://citywindsor.ca/residents/Waste-And-Recycling

  13. Major change coming next week for recycling pickup in Windsor-Essex

  14. https://windsornewstoday.ca/windsor/news/2024/08/21/major-change-coming-next-week-for-recycling-pickup-in-windsor-essex

  15. Recycling changes coming to Windsor-Essex starting January 2026

  16. https://www.am800cklw.com/news/recycling-changes-coming-to-windsor-essex-starting-january-2026.html

  17. Blue Box Recycling (Residents & Eligible Sources) | Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA)

  18. https://www.ewswa.org/curbside-collection/recycling/blue-box-recycling-residents-eligible-sources/

  19. Big changes on the way soon for how you recycle in Windsor-Essex | CBC News

  20. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/changes-windosr-essex-recycling-new-year-9.6931589

  21. Recycling | City of Windsor

  22. https://www.citywindsor.ca/residents/waste-and-recycling/recycling

  23. Blue/Red box recycling changes start on August 28

  24. https://www.am800cklw.com/news/bluered-box-recycling-changes-start-on-august-28.html

  25. Circular Materials, City of Windsor will collect old recycling bins and carts | CBC News

  26. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-circular-materials-recycling-bin-collection-9.7068461

  27. Recycling Collection

  28. https://www.essex.ca/en/live/Recycling-Collection.aspx

  29. Blue carts: What to know about Windsor-Essex new recycling rules

  30. https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/blue-carts-what-to-know-about-windsor-essex-new-recycling-rules

  31. Registration required: Windsor crews collecting outdated recycling containers

  32. https://www.ctvnews.ca/windsor/article/registration-required-windsor-crews-collecting-outdated-recycling-containers/

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are Windsor residents still paying for recycling with property taxes?
Mayor Drew Dilkens insists property taxes are no longer funding recycling collection. However, the costs are now borne by producers, which are passed down to consumers through product prices.
Q: What happens to the old recycling bins in Windsor?
Windsor and Circular Materials are offering a collection program for old bins, requiring residents to register for pickup by February 8, 2026. Residents can also drop bins at EWSWA depots until April 1, 2026.
Q: Who is ultimately paying for the new recycling system and old bin disposal?
While producers fund the system through Circular Materials, the ultimate cost of new bins, collection services, and old bin disposal is passed to consumers via product pricing, raising transparency concerns.
Q: What materials are accepted in Windsor's new recycling bins?
The new system accepts a wider range of items including paper, cardboard, cartons, plastics, metal, glass, hot/cold cups, and tubes like deodorant and toothpaste. However, items like diapers and ceramics remain non-recyclable.