Hamilton's blue box containers essentially haven't changed for about 20 years since they were introduced to city residents, says councillor Chad Collins.

So it's about time recycling containers were revised for a 21st century environment.

Mr. Collins is urging the city's waste management department to take a look at replacing Hamilton's current blue box containers. He said other municipalities have adopted larger containers, the size of city's green carts, or blue boxes that have a lid to keep recycling material from blowing around the neighbourhood. York Region is currently examining recycling carts and blue box containers with lids.

"I have three blue boxes myself and they are overflowing," said Mr. Collins. "We've had the same (recycling) system since the eighties and nineties. Other municipalities have larger boxes."

Mr. Collins said his blue boxes, which cost about $5 per container, fill up with recyclable materials quickly during the twice-a-month pickup schedule Hamilton has established. That means residences with homes without garages, and smaller residential units with limited space have a difficult time finding enough storage space for the multiple blue boxes that are needed to hold the recycling material, said Mr. Collins.

The solution would be to have one large blue box container, he said. Add a lid to the container and it would prevent material from blowing around the streets contributing to Hamilton's litter problem, said Mr. Collins.

Hamilton already spends about $2 million per year collecting litter throughout the city.

"Is the (current blue box) system the best fit for Hamilton?" said Mr. Collins. "I doubt that it is."

Hamilton's public works committee, which Mr. Collins is a member of, approved his motion this week to look at larger blue boxes. Politicians will vote on the motion at their March 26 council meeting.

The issue will also be reviewed by the Solid Waste Management Master Plan Steering Committee. If the motion is approved, a final report will be made to the public works committee and council prior to the 2009 budget process.