3-item trash limit in Ottawa: Crews will start leaving 1 bag over the limit on the sidewalk in November

The City of Ottawa will step up enforcement of the new three-item litter limit in November.

Ottawa imposed a new three-item limit on all households collecting curbside waste on Sept. 30 in an effort to extend the life of the Trail Road Waste Facility until 2024.

In October, all trash left curbside was picked up, and staff left a “special non-compliance tag” on bins or items that exceeded the three-item limit, indicating the limit had been exceeded.

In November, if the three-item limit is exceeded, an item will be left behind with a courtesy label explaining the new limit and why the item was left behind. Trash that exceeds the three-item limit must be placed in a yellow bag for staff to pick up.

Starting in December, trash over the three-item limit will be left at the curb.

During the first two weeks of the three-item limit, the city reported that less than two percent of households exceeded the three-item limit.

In the week of September 30-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 in the week of October 7-October 11.

“As a reminder, if a bin over the 140L limit is used for litter distribution, or properties set a quantity above the three-item litter limit, Solid Waste staff will leave a courtesy tag to explain why the waste is not collected. Solid Waste Services Director Shelley McDonald said in a statement.

“Courtesy labels have been used in the past to educate residents about waste disposal allowances 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 its new three-item litter limit, which will come into effect on September 30. (City of Ottawa/publication)

yellow bags

Starting in November, litter exceeding the three-item limit will need to be placed in a yellow bag.

The yellow bags will be sold in packs of 4 for $17.60. The city plans to release a list of retailers selling yellow bags this week.