Saint John residents who rely on the city’s curbside recycling program will notice some big changes.

Third-party contractor Miller Waste took over curbside recycling collection from the city as of Wednesday.

Tim O’Reilly, director of public works for the city, said one major change is when recycling will be collected.

“We have been collecting recycling at night. That will change from nighttime collection by the city to daytime collection by Miller Waste,” O’Reilly told council on Monday evening.

“In addition, a significant amount, about 50 per cent of the community, is changing which day over a two-week cycle their recycling is being collected.”

The change is part of a new provincial program that sees packaging and paper product producers pay for collection and recycling.

Council voted in July to have Circular Materials take over recycling collection. The non-profit secured Miller Waste Systems as the contractor for Saint John.

Senior staff with the city have said the move is expected to save taxpayers between $500,000 and $1 million each year.

Officials have said that no changes will be made to the types of materials that can be recycled, and there will be no changes to garbage or compost collection.

You can go to the Circular Materials website to find out when your new collection day is. Ensure your recycling bins are at the curb by 6 a.m. on your collection day.