ICI Recycling Collection Public Consultation
We’re engaging residents and businesses on the future delivery of recycling collection to Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (ICI) properties in Sarnia.
Background
The City does not currently offer any recycling collection services. In 2023 the Province of Ontario transitioned residential commercial recycling to a producer-led organization called Circular Materials Ontario. This organization is who currently delivers the curbside blue box program in Sarnia.
When we were responsible for residential recycling collection, we collected recycling from some industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) properties generally along residential collection routes. Only a small number (about 200) of the total ICI properties in Sarnia received this service, the majority in Mitton Village and downtown. Circular Materials Ontario has indicated they will cease servicing ICI properties starting in 2026.
The City is engaging the public on whether ICI collection should continue to be provided to ICI property owners, free of charge. Continued provision of ICI recycling collection would come at a cost to taxpayers. Since the City could not fold such collections into existing residential recycling routes as in the past, standalone truck routes would need to be deployed. It is estimated this could cost upwards of $280,000 annually for the 200 properties currently collected. This cost would need to be covered via and increase to property taxes.
Options
There are three options currently being reviewed.
Option 1 — Discontinue ICI recycling collection
The first option is to discontinue ICI recycling collection for the 200 properties currently being collected. This would standardize the level of service across the city so that all ICI properties are treated the same. Properties could choose to obtain their own service, or they may choose to stop recycling. This option would result in a savings of approximately $45,000 in the budget.
Option 2 — Continue ICI recycling collection to existing customers
The City could continue to offer ICI recycling collection to the current 200 properties. It will cost upwards of $280,000 to continue the service for the current 200 ICI customers. The costs would need to be funded via property tax increases.
Option 3 — Expand ICI recycling collection to all ICI properties
The City could expand recycling collection to all 1,300 ICI properties in Sarnia. An exact estimate is not available, however the program would come at a considerable cost. It would standardize delivery for ICI customers. The costs would need to be covered via property tax increases.
Provide your insight
Complete the short survey below before 4:30 p.m. on October 29, 2025 to provide your input.
Staff will review the submissions and report back to Council with the findings and potential next steps.