Ottawa's new three-item garbage limit starts soon — Here's how to avoid fines and penalties

The change takes effect on Sept. 30, with trash cops ready to enforce the rule.

Ken Warren | Ottawa Citizen

Home Hardware is selling the new city of Ottawa yellow garbage bags which cost $19.89 with tax. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Ottawa’s new Curbside Waste Diversion Policy will soon bin the old rules, bringing a three-item limit to household garbage collection. As of Sept. 30, each household will be restricted to three bags (or containers) per biweekly pickup, down from the previous maximum of six containers.

No container can exceed 140 litres or 15 kilograms.

The city’s environment and climate change committee backed the policy earlier this year, emphasizing the need to reduce the amount of waste sent to the Trail Road Landfill. “We’ve got to do something right now,” said Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill. “Right now, it’s the Wild West. With all the rigours we put into this discussion a year ago, there has been a lot of push and pull to get something done.”

With the implementation date approaching, residents have raised concerns about enforcement and compliance, particularly in multi-unit residences. The city has responded by hiring additional inspectors — or “trash cops” — to ensure adherence to the new rules.

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How will residents be informed of the changes?

The city will be mailing out the plans to residents and city councillors will be armed with “kits” to explain the garbage rule to constituents. Additionally, community associations will help educate residents about what’s happening, in keeping with messaging stressing the importance of maintaining the environment.

“I will be out this summer going door to door so that no one is surprised,” Hill said. “People appreciate the conversation. It’s important to make sure people are informed.”

What’s the plan of action for offenders?

It’s a “graduated” system of enforcement.

Initially, all extra garbage will be picked up, but garbage collectors will leave polite notes explaining the new policy. Beginning in November, garbage collectors will record the violators and leave one item behind, along with a non-compliance message.

Come December, a maximum of three bags will be picked up at every stop. Once the new year rolls around, the trash cops — “solid waste inspectors,” according to the city report — will follow up.

How will the city attempt to stop illegal dumping?

Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry says it’s not uncommon to walk through a park in her ward and see trash containers overflowing with “kitchen catchers”; garbage that residents choose to dispose of outside of their homes.

Indeed, it’s an issue throughout the city.

The city says the trash cops will have the authority to go through the garbage bags, looking for household information. Fines for dumping range from $205 to $500.

After a request from Hill, city staff say they will explore the possibility of increasing fines — the Ontario government would have to approve a change — for violators.

“I hear about that regularly now,” Hill said. “Illegal dumping is a problem. People are actively taking a bag of garbage and driving it to a park or throwing it in a bush with deliberate thought.”

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