Ottawa households throw out less waste following launch of new 3-item garbage limit

A notice for a local resident who left out more than three items for curbside garbage collection. Dec. 2, 2024. As of Dec. 1, anything beyond three items will not be collected unless it is in an approved yellow bag. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa residents sent less waste to the city’s landfill during the first three months of Ottawa’s new three-item garbage limit.

The city implemented a new limit on household waste on September 30 as part of a plan to extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill. Under the new garbage limits, households are limited to a maximum of three items of garbage every two weeks, with yellow bags required for any items over the three-item limit.

Statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa show 26,277 tonnes of garbage was sent to the city’s landfill in October, November and December, down from 31,180 tonnes during the same three months of 2023. A total of 31,361 tonnes of waste was sent to Ottawa’s landfill during October, November and December 2022.

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There was a slight increase in the amount of residential garbage collected in September, with 10,655 tonnes of garbage heading to the landfill in September 2024. A total of 10,645 tonnes was collected in September 2023.

“The total curbside garbage collected has steadily decreased from September to December 2022 through September to December 2024,” Abby Armstrong, Project Manager for Environmental Services, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa. “This may be attributed to several factors, including the implementation of the 3-item garbage limit, enhanced recycling efforts, changes in waste management policies, weather-related emergencies, and shifts in consumer behaviour.”

November saw the biggest monthly drop in the amount of waste heading to the Trail Road Landfill, with 8,583 tonnes of waste picked up in November 2024, compared to 10,864 tonnes in November 2023 and 10,970 tonnes in November 2022.

Statistics show Ottawa households generated 120,767 tonnes of waste in 2024, down from 126,640 tonnes in 2023.

The City of Ottawa phased in enforcement of Ottawa’s new three-item garbage limit after the launch on September 30. In November, crews would leave behind one item of garbage over the three-item limit with a note explaining the new rules. As of December 1, all items over the three-item limit require a yellow bag or it will be left at the curb.