Upcoming changes to waste collection

Last updated: September 17, 2025
First posted: February 25, 2025

Green bin containers being distributed in SWOX and Woodstock starting October

Residents living in South-West Oxford and Woodstock will start receiving their new green bins for organic waste collection, such as food scraps, starting in October.

Bins will be dropped near your front door if you live in a detached or semi-detached home that is currently on a curbside garbage collection route. You’ll receive one 45-litre green bin to set out your organic waste at the curb, and one 7-litre kitchen container for collecting kitchen scraps.

If you live in a townhouse or an apartment building with less than six units, you’ll receive a 7-litre kitchen container to empty in a common area. Green bin organics collection will not be available to apartment buildings with six or more units until later in 2026. Residents living above businesses are eligible to receive a green bin, but need to call Oxford County to make arrangements for drop off at 1-800-755-0394 , ext. 3159.

Download the new organic waste sorting guide to learn more about green bin collection or watch the organics program video here

Please note: South-West Oxford and Woodstock start green bin collection in January 2026. All other Oxford municipalities will start green bin collection in May 2027.

NEW: Register your business for recycling services: Learn more

What's changing in 2026 and 2027

If you live in Oxford County, you'll see several changes to waste collection services beginning in 2026. Please check this page often for news and updates.

New organics (green bin) program

This new program will collect food scraps and other biodegradable waste as part of the residential curbside collection program.
When they join the program, each Oxford County residence will receive a 7-litre kitchen container to collect food scraps and a 45-litre green bin to set out at the curb on collection day.
Organics collection starts in South-West Oxford and Woodstock in January 2026. Residents living in these municipalities will receive their green bin containers and more information this fall.
All other area municipalities (Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Zorra) begin organic collection in May 2027.

Six-day collection cycles

As of January 2026, both the City of Woodstock and the Township of South-West Oxford will be under a six-day cycle for co-collection (pick up at the same time) of garbage and organic waste. South-West Oxford currently follows a six-day cycle for garbage collection.
Under this type of schedule, your collection day moves one day forward from week to week, skipping weekends and holidays.
Annual collection calendars will be mailed out to residents ahead of time and automatic reminders will be available through the Wasteline mobile app.
In May of 2027, Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Zorra will move to a six-day cycle for co-collection of garbage and organics.

Recycling

Under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, responsibility for providing recycling services has now shifted to the producers (retailers, manufacturers, etc.) that create products and packaging. This change began in July 2023 and takes effect in Oxford County on January 1, 2026. Visit Blue Box - RPRA to learn more.
More information and a list acceptable materials for the new blue box program will be sent to homes from Circular Materials this fall.
Recycling pick-up days are directed by Circular Materials and may be different from garbage and green bin collection days.
The new province-wide recycling program for Ontario only collects recycling from residential properties. To continue to provide recycling collection to small businesses and other organizations, Oxford County is starting a new recycling collection program for these groups. Learn more and register here

Where to find more information

Oxford County is responsible for waste collection services across Oxford's local area municipalities. In the Township of South-West Oxford and the City of Woodstock, this service is contracted out to the local municipality. In all other municipalities, Oxford contracts this service to a third-party vendor, currently Emterra Environmental. Learn more and watch for updates from the following resources.