Kitchener invented the blue box (yes, really)

You might've heard: our blue box program is getting a refresh in 2026. Starting March 3, recycling collection is moving to every other week. Nope, it's not a downgrade, as each household is getting two extra blue boxes and way more materials will be recycled province-wide, including toothpaste tubes and more.

The goal is simple: keep more stuff out of landfills by making it easier to recycle more. Which is exactly what people said was impossible back in 1981 when the blue box program first launched, right here in Kitchener!

But do you know the origin story of that blue box sitting on your curb? Because it's genuinely incredible, and it starts with a garbage collector.

Meet Nyle Ludolph. In the late 1970s, he was working for Superior Sanitation in Kitchener, doing the kind of work most people don't think twice about. Every single day, he was hauling away newspapers, bottles, plastic containers, cans, all tossed without a second thought. Kitchener's landfills were bursting at their seams. The region was running out of places to put garbage. And Ludolph, who spent his days working with other people's waste, couldn't shake the feeling that there had to be a better way.

Then in 1977, a student named Eric Hellman organized an event called "Garbage Fest 77" in Kitchener to raise awareness about all the garbage we were producing. Ludolph showed up, met some recycling advocates, and became obsessed with proving this could work. He decided to turn his own home into a laboratory. For an entire year, his family meticulously separated everything they could possibly recycle from their garbage. The results were astounding: garbage reduced from 2,000 lbs to just 102 lbs. That's a 95 per cent reduction.

Armed with data from his own life, Ludolph became an evangelist for recycling, and on September 17, 1981 in Kitchener Centre Ward, the recycling pilot program launched. Over 1,000 homes were asked to separate steel cans, glass, and paper from their garbage and put them in these new blue containers. Why blue? The company felt the boxes looked best and were most visible in that colour, plus blue could withstand damage from UV light.

It was the first curbside recycling program in the world! People went ALL IN. In the first month alone, residents put out 36,000 lbs of recyclables. That was triple what anyone expected. People who didn't have blue boxes yet started calling and requesting them. The recycling company was flooded with letters from residents expressing support. By 1983, Kitchener rolled out the program city-wide to 35,000 homes. Within the first month, 75 per cent of homeowners were participating.

Ludolph spent the next two years travelling across Canada, visiting municipalities and schools, promoting recycling everywhere he went. From garbage collection in Kitchener, he became a rockstar of waste management. The simple idea spread to Mississauga, Toronto, across Ontario and to pilot programs in 16 cities around the world by the end of the 1980s! Today, Ontario's Blue Box has become a blueprint for recycling programs in more than 150 countries around the world!

Nyle Ludolph passed away on October 14, 2011 at age 84. In April 2012, the Materials Recycling Centre in Waterloo was renamed the Nyle Ludolph Materials Recycling Centre in honour of the "Father of the Blue Box." Every single piece of recycling you put in that blue box gets processed at that same facility named after the guy who made it all possible!

So next time you're carrying that blue box to the curb, especially when those two extra ones show up, maybe give it a little nod. That humble box represents what's possible when someone from Waterloo Region sees a problem and says "I can fix this." It represents how one person's determination can create a ripple effect that changes the world!

Can't decide where to go? Bauer Kitchen is always a solid bet. This SoHo-inspired spot in a restored felt factory, nails industrial-chic without the stuffiness.

I went last week and had the Taaza bowl for brunch (good stuff), but their Tuscan grilled chicken sandwich is what keeps me coming back. That fresh toasted schiacciata with goat cheese and garlic aioli? Crispy, melts in your mouth, absolutely perfect. Other favourites: the crispy calamari (people travel back just for this), duck confit wings, and crispy Brussels sprouts with homemade chips. They have an extensive plant-based menu and gluten-free options.

Their cocktails are legit too. They age their own whiskey in casks and have one of the widest brown booze selections in the city. Free underground parking is a bonus. Reserve ahead because it gets busy, especially weekends. More info: thebauerkitchen.ca | 519-772-0790

Now tell me your fav restaurant, go to pick-up place, cafe, bakery, or brewery for a chance to feature them here.

Alright, being real: it's cold, but winter flies by fast. One minute you're excited about the first snowfall, and the next thing you know it's gone. So now's the time to have fun in the snow! Chicopee, our local ski hill, has been adding magic to our winters since 1934 as a not-for-profit community spot, which means the whole vibe is welcoming and unpretentious. Everyone's genuinely there to help people love winter. They're open daily from 9am to 9pm at 396 Morrison Road in Kitchener, and they've got everything you need to make winter actually fun.

Never skied or snowboarded before? Perfect. Their certified instructors specialize in making first-timers feel confident instead of terrified. Walk into the rental shop, get your gear, and you're literally steps from the slopes. Got kids? They've got programs for tots, lessons for beginners, and a race program for speed demons aged six and up. And here's a fun twist: when everyone needs a break from skiing, there's a winter disc golf course that loops around the pond.

The hill's got 11 runs ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced, five lifts including magic carpets for little ones, and both day tickets and season passes. They even have night skiing from 7pm to 9pm if you prefer hitting the slopes under the lights. There are two spots to grab food and warm up, plus day lockers and a tech shop if your equipment needs some love. So bundle up, grab whoever's willing to join you, and go make some memories in the snow. Call 519-894-5610 or check discoverchicopee.com for conditions and tickets.

Region’s latest on Homes, Work & Ways to Help

💼 Hot and hiring urgently: Westgate Dental is looking for a Certified Dental Assistant and a Registered Dental Hygienist in Kitchener apply now & SmileTown (kids dentistry) is looking for a Dental Admin in Cambridge and a Registered Dental Hygienist in Waterloo apply quickly!

🏠 35 acre farm house c.1870 in North Dumfries

🎗️Kids in grades 3, 4 & 5 can enter the “meaning of home” creative writing contest and win their local Habitat for Humanity $10K-30K, a tablet for themselves and a pizza party for their class! Enter here. And if you love bikes, and want to recover them? apply to volunteer at Red Raccoon Bike Rescue.

70% of you are checking out the night sky, which is awesome! Any cool pictures you’d want to share with everyone? Send me if you do!

Last week’s trivia answer: a wild Turkey can run at 40 km/h (faster than most people can run!) and 34% got it right! 👏 let’s see how many get this week’s Trivia right

🪶 one of our neighbours saw a Bald Eagle yesterday! Did you know when US Bald Eagle Act of 1940 was introduced to prevent their decline in the states, it was a Canadian banker who figured the presence of pesticide DDT in the food chain was causing the bird’s shells to be too thin to survive!

🐶 Active and love the outdoors? Bruno is ready to accompany you!

🐰 Marbles would love a calm and patient companionship - is that with you?

Arts

PD Day Camp: Creative art projects inspired by KWAG exhibitions (ages 6-13) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 9:00am–4:00pm📍Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St N, Kitchener 💰$60 / $15 aftercare 🎟️ register here

Paint Nite - Creative Events: Paint with artist Hiral Panchal (legal drinking age) ♿️ 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 6:00–8:00pm📍Score Pizza, 80 Waterloo St, Waterloo 💰$47.08 🎟️ buy here

Stained Glass Style Painting Workshop: Aurora borealis design on 8x10 framed glass (<18 with legal guardian) ♿️ 🗓️ Sun, Jan 18 ⏰ 1:00–3:00pm📍Arabella Park Beer Bar, 740 Belmont Ave W, Kitchener 💰$67.70 🎟️ buy here

Paint Night - Winter Stag: (18+) ♿️ 🗓️ Mon, Jan 19 ⏰ 6:30–8:30pm📍The Canadian Brewhouse, 2960 Kingsway Dr, Kitchener💰$35 🎟️ buy here

Paint Nite - Crisp Winter Lake: (18+) ♿️🗓️ Tue, Jan 20 ⏰ 6:30–8:30pm📍E.V.O. Kitchen, 31 Water St S, Cambridge 💰$45 🎟️ buy here

Paint Night - Sky of Wonder: (12+) ♿️ 🗓️ Tue, Jan 20 ⏰ 6:30–8:30pm📍Montana's BBQ & Bar, 40 Pinebush Rd, Cambridge 💰$40 🎟️ buy here

Paint Night - Night Owl: KW Humane Society fundraiser (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Wed, Jan 21 ⏰ 6:30–8:30pm📍Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society, 250 Riverbend Dr, Kitchener💰$45 🎟️ buy here

Comedy

Dry Humour: Sober comedy show featuring Andrew Barr and Gavin Coscarella with mocktails and eats (no age restriction) ♿️ 🗓️ Thu, Jan 15 ⏰ 7:00–10:00pm📍The Boathouse, 57 Jubilee Dr, Kitchener💰$37.61 🎟️ buy here

Girl Night Live Stand-up Comedy: All-women stand-up showcase with Tia Percy and Dina Hejazi (18+) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 8:00–10:00pm📍Whoopsie Daisy Drinks, 1 Victoria St S, Unit 1, Kitchener 💰$17.31 🎟️ buy here

Rusty Nail Comedy - Dustin Searcy: Stand-up comedy headliner (19+) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 8:00–10:00pm📍TWH Social, 1 King St W, Kitchener 💰$22.63 🎟️ Jan 16 here, Jan 17 here

Music

Indie Music Night: Next Winter, Maria Gabriella & Corduroy Blue, and Eric Folino take the stage (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Thu, Jan 15 ⏰ 7:30pm📍Maxwell's Concerts & Events, 35 University Ave E, Waterloo 💰$10 🎟️ buy here

SILVIA DEE & THE BOYFRIEND(s): Bluesy rootsy rock with lots of Canadian tunes (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Thu, Jan 15 ⏰ 7:00–10:00pm📍Montana's BBQ & Bar, 740 Ottawa St S, Kitchener💰it's free! reserve (519) 579-0524

Music at Noon - Katherine Dowling, piano: Part of Laurier's free daytime concert series (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 12:00–1:00pm📍Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, 75 University Ave W, Waterloo💰 it's free! reserve here

Laurier Concerto Competition Round #1: Laurier students compete for featured soloist roles (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 3:00–6:00pm📍Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, 75 University Ave W, Waterloo💰 it's free! reserve here

Scott & Samantha: Acoustic covers of all your favourite songs (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 6:00–9:00pm📍Block Three Brewing, 1430 King St N, Unit #3, St. Jacobs💰it's free! reserve 519-664-1001

Noah Brigden with Andy Colonico & Matt Bazinet: Modern country folk with alt country rock vibes (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 7:00pm📍Bobby O'Brien's, 125 King St W, Kitchener💰 it's free! reserve 519.743.5657

Phoenix Jazz Group: (no age restrictions) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 8:00–10:30pm📍The Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo 💰 $20–$32 🎟️ buy here

Friday Live Music - Michael D'arcy: (no age restrictions) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 8:00–11:00pm📍The Galt Club, 13 Main St, Cambridge💰$5 cover after 8:30pm reserve (519) 622-1799

The Brian Byrne Era of I Mother Earth: Brian Byrne and No Coma bring back the Byrne Era, with The Wild High opening (19+) ♿️ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 8:00pm📍Maxwell's Concerts & Events, 35 University Ave E, Waterloo 💰$35 🎟️ buy here

Jazz Jam: (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 2:00–4:00pm📍The Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo 💰 it's free! reserve (519) 886-3350

Matt Weidinger: Soul, blues, R&B, and rock (no age restrictions) 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 2:30pm📍White Rabbit Public House, 47 King St N, Waterloo 💰 it's free! reserve (519) 746-7540

Drum Tao - the best: Traditional Japanese taiko drumming with dazzling choreography and visual effects (no age restrictions) ♿️ call 519-578-1570 for accessible seating 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 7:00pm📍Centre In The Square, 1 Queen St N, Kitchener💰$62–$98🎟️ buy here

Wendell Ferguson and Katherine Wheatley: Folk concert & livestream option available(no age restrictions)♿️ 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 8:00pm📍The Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St, Kitchener💰$25 in-person 🎟️ buy here

David Occhipinti's Camera Ensemble:(no age restrictions) ♿️ 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 8:00–10:30pm📍Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo💰$20–$32 🎟️ buy here

Anthony D'Alessandro: (no age restrictions) ♿️ 🗓️ Sun, Jan 18 ⏰ 4:00–6:30pm📍The Jazz Room, 59 King St N, Waterloo 💰$22–$35 🎟️ buy here

Battle of the Bands - Tech Edition: Local tech bands rock for mental health, benefiting CMHA Waterloo Wellington (all ages) ♿️ 🗓️ Mon, Jan 19 ⏰ 6:30–10:00pm📍Maxwell's Concerts, 35 Uni Ave E, Waterloo💰$25 🎟️ buy here

Sports

Kitchener Rangers vs Saginaw Spirit: Canadian hockey league game(all ages)♿ 🗓️ Fri, Jan 16 ⏰ 7:00pm📍The Aud, 400 E Ave, Kitchener💰$28-$46 🎟️ buy here

KW Titans vs Sudbury 5: Basketball super league game (all ages) ♿ 🗓️ Sat, Jan 17 ⏰ 4:00pm📍The Aud, 400 E Ave, Kitchener 💰$22-$102 🎟️ buy here

Kitchener Rangers vs Guelph Storm: Canadian hockey league game(all ages) ♿ 🗓️ Sun, Jan 18 ⏰ 2:00pm📍The Aud, 400 E Ave, Kitchener💰$28-$46 🎟️ buy here

💌 Thanks for reading! If you loved it, forward this to friends looking for reasons to be proud of our region or ask them to join here.

See you next week. Until then, keep riding the region’s rhythm!

with love,

🦆 Your Neighbourly Goose | Waterloo Region Rhythm