Solid Waste Master Plan update
On June 25, Council approved the Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP) to guide how the City sustainably manages waste over the next 30 years. The Trail Waste Facility landfill is estimated to reach capacity between 2034 and 2035, if today's disposal habits remain the same. The SWMP outlines 50 actions to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill, recover resources and energy from the remaining garbage, and dispose of residual waste in an environmentally sustainable way, all while keeping services affordable.
Over the next three decades, these actions are expected to reduce waste by about 31,000 tonnes and divert almost one million tonnes of waste from the landfill, extending its life by 14 years. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the same as removing 2,750 passenger vehicles from the roads each year.
Council also approved the new Solid Waste Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP), which sets out how the City will keep waste services cost-effective and affordable to 2053. The LRFP outlines the operating requirements and capital investments needed to maintain existing service and to fund the SWMP. The City will shift to a funding model where costs would be recovered from a curbside service fee.
To support future capital needs, the City will replenish the solid waste reserve fund from revenues over the next several years. The LRFP will ensure that the cost per household for waste services increases in an equitable and predictable way over time, to keep pace with the cost of service and capital needs.
We want to take this opportunity to thank you for all your input along the way!
Engagement has played a key role in developing and prioritizing the 50 actions in the plan and helping to ensure a multi-pronged approach for tackling the City’s waste management challenges and identifying solutions and opportunities. The Waste Plan has a goal: Zero Waste Ottawa achieved through progressive, collective and innovative action – and we’re excited to begin the work to reach this vision!
Throughout Waste Plan development, residents and stakeholders consistently underlined the importance of the City working with the community, multi-lingual, and external partners to ensure the success of many of the actions in the plan.
As we dive straight into the planning and implementing phases. We will continue to connect with residents, and many partners from across the city, to help expand and support existing community initiatives and implement aligned City programs and policies.
Three-item garbage limit coming for curbside waste collection
Starting Monday, September 30, the City will be implementing a three-item garbage limit for residents who receive curbside waste collection. This limit includes residents whose waste is collected in one shared location – often called a common pad – and those living on agricultural properties.
Ottawa has had a six-item garbage limit in place since 2007. This limit has been far more generous than many municipalities, including neighbouring communities around our city. The new limit helps us extend the life of our Trail Road Waste Facility Landfill as we explore new options for waste disposal.
What is considered an item in this new three-item garbage limit?
An item includes the following:
a plastic waste bag
a bin with a maximum capacity of up to 140 litres. Households can put several waste bags in a bin as long as the weight is less than 33 pounds (15 kilos) per bin.
Furniture or bulky item that can’t be re-used or donated
Examples of acceptable three-item combinations include:
one 140-litre bin, a plastic waste bag and a broken chair
three 140-litre bins
three plastic waste bags
two 140 litre bins and one broken vacuum
Leaf and yard waste stored in paper leaf and yard waste bags do not count towards the limit. There will continue to be no limit to how much residents can set out through green, blue and black bins.
Yellow bags for excess waste
If your waste habits are anything like most Ottawa residents, you likely won’t experience any impacts on regular collection days. For those who need to go above the three-item garbage limit, yellow bags can be purchased at participating retailers, including Home Hardware stores and Building Centres later this year, for $17.60 for a package of four. There is no limit to the number of City of Ottawa residential yellow bags that are set out for collection.
Agricultural properties and other special considerations
The new three-item garbage limit will still apply to agricultural properties with residential homes who receive curbside collection. Residents will have opportunities to set out unavoidable farm waste without needing a yellow bag from Tuesday, April 1 to Saturday, May 31. This exemption is only available for agricultural properties already participating in all waste diversion programs, such as the blue, black and weekly green bin programs.
Other special considerations are available for residents who need to dispose of special items, such as home healthcare waste and diapers. You can visit the Garbage and Recycling webpage for more information on how to register for this program and where you can purchase yellow bags.
Tips for waste reduction
More than half of waste set out on garbage day can be recycled, composted or even reused. Outside of the City’s recycling and composting programs, there are a variety of programs and community groups that can give many of your unwanted items a second life.
An unwanted item in your home might be high on your neighbour’s wish list. Many neighbourhoods have Buy Nothing groups, where members can post items to give, free of charge, to those who want them. Be sure to check Facebook or other local forums to see if there is one active in your community.
Have an item you want to get rid of, but are unsure where it can be safely disposed? Check out the Waste Explorer. It can direct you to which bin an item goes in, or if it should be taken to a retailer running a Take It Back! program. You can visit the Waste Explorer online, or via the Ottawa Collection Calendar mobile app available for both Apple and Android devices.
The City also hosts several events throughout the year where you can dispose of specialty waste, such as electronics or hazardous waste or even get an item repaired. Upcoming Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste events can be found by visiting the City’s Hazardous waste and special items webpage. The City has also sponsored several Repair Café events throughout the year. At these events, you can get an item assessed and repaired where possible by a volunteer from Ottawa Tool Library.
Repair Cafés in 2024:
Saturday, August 10
Zibi on Booth St (Just north of the Canadian War Museum)
10 am to 2 pm
Saturday, October 5 - Sponsored by the City of Ottawa
Walter Baker Sports Centre - Halls A&B
100 Malvern Drive
10 am to 2 pm
Saturday, November 30 - Sponsored by the City of Ottawa
Tony Graham Recreation Complex, Kanata - Hall A
100 Charlie Rogers Place
10 am to 2 pm
For more information please visit ottawa.ca/wastereduction and ottawa.ca/garbage
Got Household Hazardous Waste?
Every year, the City of Ottawa hosts drop-off events to ensure that household hazardous waste is safely collected, transported, and appropriately recycled or disposed of.
In 2023, the City of Ottawa hosted nine one-day drop-off events. Nearly 15,600 residents attended these events, disposing of approximately 503 tonnes of household hazardous waste.
Check the list below for dates and locations of upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Depots:
Date: Saturday, July 27
Hours of Operation: 8 am to 4 pm
Location: 200 Cyclone Taylor Blvd – Canadian Tire Centre
Date: Saturday, August 10
Hours of Operation: 8 am to 4 pm
Location: 2170 Mer Bleu Road - Innes Snow Dump Facility
Date: Sunday, September 8
Hours of Operation: 8 am to 4 pm
Location: Tunney’s Pasture
*Please follow the signage at Tunney’s Pasture for the specific location of the event
For everything you need to know about Household Hazardous Waste and events visit Ottawa.ca/hhw
Did you know that you can safely dispose of many kinds of household hazardous waste year-round? Items including fluorescent bulbs, batteries, paint and oil, can be returned to participating local retailers during their regular business hours.
For a list of retailers who accept returns of household hazardous waste, enter the item in the Waste Explorer.
For additional ways to keep objects out of the landfill, visit: ottawa.ca/wastereduction.
Here’s a sharp idea – let's keep our collection operators safe! Medical needles, syringes and lancets do not belong in your garbage or recycling bins. Go to ottawa.ca/wasteexplorer to learn how to dispose of these.