Weekly newsletter: January 27, 2026
It’s the last week of January already!
The photo of the piper above is from a local Robbie Burns Night celebration last week. I read a poem↗ written by Burns, mispronouncing several words in Old Scots. I even tried haggis for the first time! Not bad, but it was also seasoned nicely.
Snow clearing appears to have gone smoothly yesterday, with one neighbourhood that received delayed service overnight. Snowbank removal resumes tonight, after the waste collection trucks go to sleep for the night.
I have a general awareness that many streets, especially those with sidewalks, are getting quite narrow. Public works staff have several locations scheduled based on observed need. Service from last week on Chapman Mills Drive and Wolfgang Drive that were not complete in time will be rescheduled.
Replacement recycling bins
Latest information is that replacement bins are free, but delivery is not provided.
Getting consistent information from Circular Materials about getting replacement recycling bins has been a struggle since the changeover to the provincial recycling program.
The simple question of whether damaged, stolen, and missing recycling bins will be replaced for free has yielded four distinct answers:
Bins replaced and delivered for free
Bins replaced with free pickup or delivery at cost
Bins replaced, but must be picked up (no delivery option)
Bins replaced at cost
The most recent information from last week is replacement recycling bins are provided for free, but they will not be delivered. Rather, they can be picked up at one of Miller Waste’s two facilities, listed below. Please contact Miller Waste first at 1-888-852-2374 or Area2@MillerWaste.ca.
145 Walgreen Road↗ (near 417/Carp Road)
1815 Bantree Street↗ (near 417/Innes Road)
It’s a departure from the information previously shared, but as Circular Materials’ local contractor, Miller Waste must comply with the most recent information.
I will work with City staff to try to convince Miller Waste to add a pickup point in the south closer to Barrhaven, Riverside South, and Manotick, but I wouldn’t bet any money on it.
Additionally, Miller Waste has confirmed that plastics, metals, and glass can be placed curbside in clear or blue plastic bags, while flattened cardboard and paper can be placed in a large cardboard box (but the box will be taken away).
Apologies for the information whiplash over the last few weeks. As we get further information, we will communicate it in as timely a manner as possible through the newsletter and social media.
Requests and new and replacement green bins can be made through the City by calling 3-1-1 or through webform↗, as garbage and green bin remain municipal responsibilities.
Dog designation at Chapman Mills forests
Seeking public input to add off-leash designation to two woodlots.
Popular with local two-legged and four-legged residents, the Chapman Mills East and West forests are two forests predating the surrounding community and zoned to never allow for future development.
The Chapman Mills East Forest is more popularly known as the Nepean Woods and is located at Strandherd/Cresthaven, while the Chapman Mills West Forest straddles Clearbrook Drive east of Longfields.
Currently, the woodlots have no dog designation, so the default requirements under the Animal Care and Control By-law↗ requires dogs to be leashed and under the control of their handler.
Two other woodlots in the ward, the Hearts Desire Forest and the Kennedy Craig Forest, are designated as off-leash areas, which permits dogs to be off-leash, but under the care and control of their handler.
In response to some resident requests and to ensure more consistent designations across the ward, I’m seeking public feedback to add the same off-leash designation to the two Chapman Mills forests.
The designation would result in minor changes only, including garbage and compost bins at the forests’ entrances in 2027 as part of an overall expansion of the parks waste strategy, plus signage at entrances.
Please share your feedback by replying to this newsletter or sending an email to Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca. If the feedback is favourable, the new designation will be added this coming spring. Thank you!
Winter heating safety
Thanks to the Ottawa Fire Services for helping with some of the wording below.
Heating equipment is a leading cause of house fires and related injury/death in Ontario, especially during the winter months. You can keep warm and safe with the tips below!
Keep all outside exhausts clear of snow and ice to ensure your furnace and hot water heater are venting and working properly.
Indoors, never use improper heating sources such as unvented appliances, propane heaters, camping equipment, or cooking equipment.
Residents with fireplaces, fireplace inserts, and wood/wood pellet stoves should use certified professionals only for installation, inspection, repair, and cleaning. Burn dry, seasoned, untreated wood and pellets only.
Chimneys should also be cleaned and inspected annually before each burning season.
When in use, keep items that can burn a metre away and watch children closely.
Ashes should be disposed in a covered metal container at least three metres away from any building, but they should be cooled before disposal.
Lastly, Ontario’s fire code now requires homes with an attached garage and any fuel burning heating equipment to have carbon monoxide detectors↗ on each floor.
Speaking of carbon monoxide, if you must idle your vehicle to warm it up, please move the vehicle outside - Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed garage.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically.
Beatrice/Queensbury (stop 3345) bus shelter – Delayed to the spring or summer. See explanation from December and update from earlier this month.
Fallowfield/Transitway – The traffic signals at Fallowfield/Transitway are intermittently cycling on their own (instead of changing for Transitway traffic only). City staff will investigate all detection components as the fault has happened a few times over the last year.
New development application – The City has received a rezoning and site plan application↗ for 3400 Woodroffe Avenue (south of Paul Métivier) to construct 160 homes divided amongst stacked townhouses, back-to-back townhouses, and traditional townhouses. The developer is seeking rezoning to permit the desired density.
Spring recreation registration – Residents may browse spring recreation activities starting today (January 27) at register.ottawa.ca↗. Registration on February 10 at 9:00 pm for aquatics, February 12 at 9:00 pm for all other activities.
Vacant unit tax – The 2026 vacant unit tax declaration portal is now open. Homeowners may complete their declaration through their ServiceOttawa account↗, at Ottawa.ca/VUT↗, by calling 613-580-2444, or in person at Ben Franklin Place or City Hall. Letters with access codes will be mailed out next week. The deadline to complete the VUT is March 19, 2026.
Walter Baker kiddie pool – The training pool (kiddie pool with the ramp) will be closed for required maintenance on Wednesday, January 28 and Thursday, January 29. All lessons in that pool on those days have been cancelled and refunded.
Waste collection – Circular Materials has corrected the recycling collection information in their map to match the City’s collection calendar.
That’s all for this week! Stay warm.
-Wilson