Ottawa's 3-container limit for curbside garbage takes effect this fall

The City of Ottawa's new three-garbage item limit for household waste will take effect on Sept. 30, with a three-month phase-in period for the limit. As of December, collection staff will only collect three garbage items from households every two weeks.

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.

Council voted in June 2023 to limit households to three garbage bins every two weeks as part of a new curbside waste diversion plan.

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.

A garbage item can be a garbage bag, a 140-litre container or bulky item that is set-out within the size and weight parameters outlined in the Solid Waste Management Bylaw. Staff say households can place multiple smaller bags in the 140-litre container.