Post September 30, Ottawa will implement a new three-item trash limit

Starting September 30, the City of Ottawa will implement a new limit of three garbage items per household to help manage waste at the Trail Road Waste Facility.

This initiative aims to cut down on waste accumulation, lower collection and disposal costs, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, according to a city press release.

There will still be no restrictions on curbside recycling and green bin waste; the limit applies only to residential curbside garbage pickup.

To adhere to the three-item limit, the city advises using one or a combination of the following:

A garbage bag: Black bags, which can weigh up to 33 pounds.

A garbage container: Several smaller bags can be placed in a container with a capacity of up to 140 liters or 33 pounds.

A bulky item: Any large item, like furniture, that does not fit in a bag or container.

To address waste management challenges, Ottawa’s City Council approved a new Solid Waste Master Plan in June 2024.

This plan will guide the city’s waste management strategy for the next 30 years.

With Ottawa's population projected to hit 1.5 million by 2053, the city anticipates a 31 percent increase in waste.

If current disposal practices continue, the Trail Waste Facility landfill could reach its capacity between 2034 and 2035.

The Solid Waste Master Plan includes 50 actions designed to "divert waste from the landfill, recover resources and energy from the remaining garbage, and manage residual waste in an environmentally sustainable manner," as stated on the city's website.