Ontario Waste Diversion says about 20 per cent of all residential waste in 2012 reached blue boxes, slightly higher than from the year before.
Chief Executive Officer Michael Scott says it's not bad, noting a slight increase over 2011.
Scott admits northern Ontario communities are challenged by distance to markets and costs that can impact on local recycling efforts.
He says increased education and the creation of depots to collect such things as electronic equipment can further reduce the amount of material going to landfill.
