Dear Premier Ford,
Re: Curbside Recycling Eligibility for Non-Profit Organizations
At its regular meeting held on November 11th, 2025, the Council of the Township of Selwyn passed the following resolution:
Resolution No. 2025 – 223 – Curbside Recycling – Non Profits
Mayor Sherry Senis – Councillor Brian Henry –
Whereas the Province of Ontario designated producers to be responsible for collecting recycling in the Province; and
Whereas non-profit organizations, including our local food banks, have been deemed ineligible for producer blue box collection effective January 1st, 2026; and
Whereas food insecurity is a local, provincial and federal issue; and
Whereas food banks need to receive grocery items that are delivered in cardboard boxes and cartons which generate copious amounts of recyclable material; and
Whereas food banks are volunteer and donation based with no revenue collected to pay for services such as removal of recyclable materials;
Therefore be it resolved that the Council of the Township of Selwyn strongly urge the Province to re-instate the eligibility for curbside blue box collection as of January 1st, 2026, for non-profit organizations, such as food banks; and
That this motion be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, MPP Dave Smith, County and City of Peterborough, Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus and Ontario Municipalities for support.
Carried.
Under the Province’s producer-responsibility framework, food banks and similar non-profit organizations have been deemed ineligible for curbside blue box collection effective January 1, 2026. This change will place an unreasonable burden on these essential community services that rely entirely on volunteers and donations.
Food banks play a critical role in addressing food insecurity — an issue of local, provincial, and national importance. These organizations receive large quantities of grocery items packaged in cardboard and other recyclable materials, yet they have no sustainable means to manage the associated recycling costs once municipal collection ends.
The Township of Selwyn strongly urges the Province of Ontario to reinstate eligibility for curbside blue box collection for non-profit organizations, such as food banks.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Megin Hunter
Office Assistant/ Receptionist
Township of Selwyn