Ontario’s EPR Is Reshaping Recycling—What It Means for Your Business (with Sources)

First, a quick clarification: “Producer” ≠ “every business”

Ontario’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shift makes product/packaging producers—brand owners, importers, and certain retailers/marketplaces—financially and operationally responsible for residential Blue Box recycling. See RPRA’s Blue Box producer guidance: RPRA – Producers

This does not replace the waste and recycling services your business locations (IC&I: industrial, commercial & institutional) arrange with private haulers like Miller. Learn more about the residential scope here: RPRA – Blue Box Overview

Bottom line: EPR changes who funds and runs the residential system by Jan 1, 2026, but your business pickup remains a private service you contract—Miller can set that up and optimise it.

What’s changing in Ontario (in plain language)

Transition: Communities have been moving to a producer-run residential system July 1, 2023 → Dec 31, 2025. Full EPR applies January 1, 2026. Ontario – Producer Responsibility

Scope: EPR covers eligible residential sources. It does not cover IC&I waste streams at your place of business. RPRA – Blue Box Overview

Recent amendments: Ontario finalized changes for 2026+ that phase in or defer some recovery targets (e.g., flexible plastics). RPRA – Blue Box updates

Why businesses should care—even if you’re not a “producer”

Continuity & cost control: Stable commercial pickups with a proven operator (Miller) help avoid service gaps and contamination surcharges.

Multi-site consistency: Standardise IC&I programs across locations (cardboard, organics, film, metal, glass, etc.).

If you are also a producer: You’ll still need RPRA registration/reporting and a PRO for the residential system—separate from your site’s IC&I service contract. RPRA – Register/Report

Durham Region focus: what to expect locally

Durham Region communities are under the producer-led residential system administered by Circular Materials. Miller Waste is listed as the local recycling contact/contractor for many Durham communities (e.g., Ajax, Clarington, Brock, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, plus multi-residential in Oshawa and Whitby). For single-family in Oshawa/Whitby, GFL is indicated.

Key links:

Durham – Garbage, Recycling, Green Bin

Circular Materials – Durham Resident Communities

Ajax – Garbage & Recycling

Clarington – Garbage and Recycling

Whitby – Waste and Recycling

Pickering – Waste and Recycling

Oshawa – Waste and Recycling

Brock – Waste & Recycling

Scugog – Waste & Recycling

Uxbridge – Garbage & Recycling

Other Ontario communities our clients ask about

Remember: these links describe residential programs. Your business sites still require IC&I service through a private hauler like Miller.

Aurora / York Region – Waste & Recycling

Barrie – Garbage, Recycling & Organics

Kawartha Lakes – Waste & Recycling

West Nipissing – Garbage & Recycling

A practical checklist for facility managers (IC&I)

Audit your streams (cardboard, organics, film plastics, metals, glass, e-waste, hazardous where applicable).

Right-size containers & pickup frequency to cut contamination and overflow fees.

Standardise multi-site programs (same signage, acceptable materials, training).

Capture cardboard and organics—usually the biggest, fastest ROI.

Add a film/plastics solution where volumes justify (baling or separate capture).

Measure & report: simple monthly diversion and contamination KPIs.

If you’re also a producer: complete RPRA registration/reporting and engage a PRO—separate track from your IC&I contract.

How Miller Waste helps businesses—today

Commercial pickups: tailored garbage, recycling, organics programs for IC&I sites across Ontario.

Program design & training: bin standards, signage, staff onboarding to reduce contamination.

Cardboard & fibre optimisation: right-sizing, balers, bale-to-market solutions.

Organics diversion: kitchen/food scraps and back-of-house programs where available.

Multi-site rollouts: one playbook across locations (Durham, Aurora, Barrie, Kawartha Lakes, West Nipissing, and beyond).

Producer support (if applicable): understand where EPR (residential) stops and IC&I (your facilities) starts—stay compliant and efficient.

Local presence: Miller is listed as the residential recycling contact in multiple communities and operates widely across Ontario—making it easy to coordinate both commercial service and public-facing education where needed.

Talk to Miller

Whether you manage a single site or dozens across Ontario, we’ll build a right-sized, cost-controlled waste and recycling program—and, if you’re a producer, we’ll help you align your EPR obligations without disrupting operations.

Contact Miller Waste Systems: https://millerwaste.ca