Residents of Northumberland County are required to keep their paper and paper packaging separate from their household plastic, metal and glass containers in blue and grey boxes. Bags of recycling are not accepted with the exception of a dedicated clear or clear-blue bag of bags, and a clear or clear-blue bag of shredded paper. Please have your recycling to the curb/roadside by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day.
In 2024, responsibility for recycling collection and processing in Northumberland will transition from Northumberland County to producers of packaging and paper products. This is part of a three-year province-wide transition to ‘Producer Responsibility’.
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Type the name of the waste item below and the Waste Wizard will tell you how to properly dispose of it.
Box specifics
The Blue Box and Grey Box are the same size:
Volume: 23.8 gallons (90.1litres)
Height: 54 cm
Width: 48 cm
Depth: 39 cm
Weight: 5.0 lbs empty
If your household produces more recyclables than what will fit into these two boxes, you will need to purchase more.
Purchase boxes
Blue and Grey Boxes are available for purchase for $8.50 each. Broken boxes will be exchanged for new ones for no charge. The broken box will then be recycled.
Available locations
- Bewdley Community Recycling Centre
- Brighton Community Recycling Centre
- Seymour Community Recycling Centre
- Northumberland County Headquarters
555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Snowy and windy day tips
- Set your recycling out the morning of your collection (by 7AM), rather than the night before.
- Place heavier materials on top of lighter materials.
- Stack your blue box on top of your grey box.
- Do not overfill your boxes. Keep material no higher than 3/4 full. If you produce more recycling than will fit into one blue box or grey box, you may need to purchase additional bins.
- Additionally, residents may use their own containers* such as Rubbermaid totes or garbage cans provided, they do not exceed 80L capacity or 44lbs, and containers and papers are separated into separate bins. We will mail you labels for your bins, so your collector knows they are for recycling.
- During extreme wind events, wait until your next collection day if possible. Otherwise, follow the tips above.
- Blue and grey boxes on snowbanks will not be collected.
* This may change in 2026, when producers take over Ontario’s blue box program.
Recycling accessibility application
Residents with disabilities that prevent them from using a blue or grey box, can apply to continue to set their recycling out in bags. Please note, that if approved, sorting materials is still required.