Ottawa to begin full enforcement of 3-item garbage limit on Monday: Here’s what you need to know

The City of Ottawa will begin the final phase of the graduated approach to enforcing the city’s new three-item garbage limit on Monday, leaving behind any extra items not in a yellow bag.

The City of Ottawa will begin the final phase of the graduated approach to enforcing the city’s new three-item garbage limit on Monday, leaving behind any extra items not in a yellow bag.

The new three-item garbage limit took effect on Sept. 30, as the city looks to extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill.

In October, all garbage items were collected, with a courtesy tag left at homes where the three-item limit was exceeded. In November, the city moved to the second phase of enforcement, leaving one item at the curb with a courtesy tag if the household exceeded the limit and the extra items were not in a yellow bag.

Starting Monday, any garbage over the three-item limit and not in a yellow bag will be left behind with a courtesy tag indicating the violation. Director of Solid Waste Services Shelly McDonald says collection operators will document cases of “improper set outs and escalate for review and follow-up by a Solid Waste Inspector.”

The city is selling yellow bags in packages of four for $17.60. The bags are available at 11 hardware stores, 13 community centres and six client service centres.

Large bulky items and furniture cannot be bagged.

Statistics show more than 99 per cent of households have put out three items of garbage or less a week in six of the first eight weeks for the rules.  During the week of Nov. 11-15, 0.62 per cent of households exceeded the three-item limit, while during the week of Nov. 18-22, 0.72 per cent of homes put out more than three items.