Ottawa’s 3-garbage limit: Crews will begin leaving 1 bag above the limit at the curb in November

In November, the City of Ottawa is expected to increase enforcement of its new three-item trash limit.

Ottawa introduced a new three-item limit for all households collecting curbside waste on September 30, with the goal of extending the life of the Trail Road landfill until 2024.

In October, all trash left at the curb was collected, and workers left a “non-compliance tag” on trash cans or items over the three-piece limit, indicating the limit had been exceeded.

During November, if the three-item limit is exceeded, one item will be left with a tag explaining the new limit and the reason for the item being left behind. Any rubbish exceeding the three-piece limit must be placed in a yellow bag for staff to collect.

From December, garbage above the three-piece limit will be left at the curb.

The city found that in the first two weeks of the three-item limit, less than two percent of households exceeded the three-item limit.

For the week of September 30-October 4, 1.81 percent of 151,185 households were over the three-item limit, while 1.04 percent of 155,676 households were over the limit for the week of October 7-11.

“A reminder that if a bin larger than 140 liters is used for collection, or if owners identify an amount exceeding the three-piece limit, Solid Waste staff will leave a courtesy tag explaining why the waste has not been collected,” Shelley McDonald, director of waste collection, said in a statement . solid waste services.

“Courtesy tags have been used in the past to educate residents about waste collection allowances and will continue to be used to support residents in adapting to this policy change.”

The City of Ottawa provides examples of its new three-item garbage limit, which comes into effect on September 30. (City of Ottawa/Edition)

Yellow bags

From November, waste exceeding the three-piece limit must be thrown into a yellow bag.

The yellow bags will be sold in packs of four for $17.60. The city plans to publish a list of retailers selling yellow bags this week.