Halton Hills Mayor Highlights Major Recycling Changes and Regional Investments in November Update

Halton Hills – Halton Hills Mayor Ann Lawlor is drawing residents’ attention to several significant regional updates — from sweeping changes to Blue Box recycling to major investments that support health, housing and wellbeing across the community. Her November 2025 message, originally published in Halton Hills Today, outlines how upper-tier regional services continue to shape local life.

Expanded Blue Box Recycling Begins January 1, 2026

Beginning January 1, 2026, Halton Region will transition its residential recycling program to Circular Materials Ontario, as part of Ontario’s new provincial recycling framework. Under this change, companies that produce packaging and paper products will now assume responsibility for recycling — not municipalities.

The shift will allow residents in Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville to place many more items in their Blue Box. Newly accepted materials will include:

• Single-use straws

• Plastic cutlery

• Beverage cups

• Paper egg cartons

• Shredded paper

• Toothpaste tubes

• Chip bags and bubble wrap

• Foam packaging

• Empty aerosol containers

• Pizza boxes

• Coffee pods
  …and more.

A small number of items will no longer be accepted, such as books and metal cookware.

Despite the expanded list, core services remain unchanged:
Collection day, the contractor (Miller Waste Systems) and existing recycling containers will all stay the same. Halton Region will also continue to handle garbage, green cart, yard waste and bulk collection.

Regional Investments Supporting Local Health and Wellbeing

Mayor Lawlor also highlighted the impact of the Halton Region Community Investment Fund, which provided grants ranging from $15,000 to more than $150,000 in 2025. The fund supports nonprofits delivering vital services to vulnerable residents, ensuring that public dollars are maximized through partnerships with community organizations.

Examples of funded programs helping Halton Hills residents include:

• Acclaim Health – specialized in-home dementia support for seniors

• Knox Presbyterian Church (Georgetown) & The Roxy Centre (Acton) – seasonal shelter and food services

• Thrive Counselling Services – coordinated support for intimate partner violence response

• Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation – nutritional support for cancer patients

• Canadian Mental Health Association – Halton – call-diversion program for low-acuity mental-health calls

Mayor Lawlor noted her strong support for the fund, emphasizing how it strengthens community capacity and improves quality of life for “families, friends and neighbours.”

Connecting Through ‘Talk to a Stranger Week’

The Mayor also reminded residents that Talk to a Stranger Week runs from November 24 to 30. The GenWell charity encourages residents to brighten someone’s day — and their own — through simple acts such as saying hello or starting a friendly conversation.

“As mayor, I talk to strangers all the time,” Lawlor wrote. “And it sure does work for me.”

With the holiday season already underway, she encouraged residents to enjoy meaningful moments with family, friends and community.

Source: Town of Halton Hills / Halton Hills Today message from Mayor Ann Lawlor (November 2025)