Only 3 Garbage Bags Allowed in Ottawa

Ottawa residents will be limited to three containers of garbage every two weeks starting this fall, as the city looks to reduce the amount of waste heading to the Trail Road Landfill.

A report for the environment and climate change committee says the new three garbage item limit will be in effect as of Monday, Sept. 30, with a three-month phased in-approach to the new cap on garbage items collected by staff.

Under the plan, collection staff will collect all the garbage items left at the curb in October, even if the three-garbage limit is exceeded. Staff say crews will record and leave a "custom non-compliance tag indicating the limit and how to properly participate in waste diversion programs."

Starting in November, at households exceeding the three-garbage item limit, staff will record and leave one item behind with custom non-compliance tags.

As of December, only three garbage items will be collected, with a non-compliance tag affixed to garbage items left at the curb. Households that set out more than three items of garbage a week could be able to set out additional garbage in a yellow bag.

Bags will be sold in four packs for $17.60 plus tax, (that about $5 per bag) and would be available at all seven Client Service Centres, 10 Home Hardwares and one BMR.

Patrick’s Comments I don’t know how the city plans to deal with small landlords, so I’d encourage you to contact your councilor to determine how this will be done.

Specifically, I’m thinking about investors who own bungalows with SDU’s, or those with a duplex or even a triplex in which it is not easy to discern if it’s a single-family home or a three unit.

If tenants put out nine bags and the garbageman only picks up three, one must consider how to immediately deal with it or you will be looking at rodent infestation and angry tenants.

Garbage Update, Ottawa Citizen May 29, 2024

Does my basement renter also get three items? No.

Homes with basement apartments or coach houses will not have a higher item limit, with staff explaining in their report that owners pay just "one curbside garbage rate for the entire property."

But what about apartments and condos… 

The new limits apply only to curbside collection, but the city is also rolling out the mandatory use of green bins in all multi-residential buildings that use municipal collection services. It's something the city has been working toward for years.

"It's a big demand from residents to have green bins in their buildings," Menard said. "They want to be doing the right thing and recycling."

Hoover-Bienasz said while the "yuck factor" remains a concern, the main delay has been because many older buildings don't have adequate space.

The tiered phase-in will take four years, ending with the largest apartments and condos. Along the way, staff will be working with property managers to come up with solutions to issues and educating residents.