Ottawa 3-item waste limit: Crews to begin leaving 1 bag over limit at the curb in November

The City of Ottawa will increase enforcement of the new three-item waste limit in November.

Ottawa implemented the new three-item limit for all households collecting their trash on September 30, with the aim of extending the life of the Trail Road Waste Facility until 2024.

In October, all trash left at the curb was collected, with staff leaving a ‘custom non-compliance tag’ on any trash bins or items over the three-item limit, indicating the limit had been exceeded.

If the three-item limit is exceeded in November, one item will be left behind with a courtesy tag explaining the new limit and why the item was left behind. Any waste exceeding the three item limit must be placed in a yellow bag for staff to collect.

From December, all waste above the limit of three items will be put out on the street.

In the first two weeks of the three-item limit, less than two percent of households exceeded the three-item limit, according to the city.

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

“A reminder that if a bin above the 140 liter limit is used for putting out waste, or if properties place a quantity above the three item waste limit, Solid Waste staff will leave a courtesy tag explaining why the waste has not been collected. Shelley McDonald, president of Solid Waste Services, said in a statement.

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

The City of Ottawa is providing examples of the new three-item waste limit, which comes into effect on September 30. (City of Ottawa/release)

Yellow bags

From November, all waste above the three-item limit must be placed in a yellow bag.

Yellow bags are sold in packs of four for $17.60. The city plans to release a list of retailers selling yellow bags this week.