Curbside Garbage Restrictions Kick-In
Garbage is a basic service … one of the reasons municipalities were created.
Now the city is putting strict limits on garbage at the curb.
Garbage collection was created in the early days of city government to reduce disease, curb vermin and limit littering and illegal dumping.
Why is garbage collection being limited? To reduce waste. To encourage green-bin usage. That’s what the city says.
But that’s theory from an ivory tower. Waste doesn’t reduce. It sits in the backyard.
We keep hearing stories of increased rat infestations and illegal dumping due to restrictions on curbside waste.
The real reasons for curbside waste limits are that the city doesn’t have a landfill or waste-to-energy plan and no money to undertake what needs to be done.
Bad money management leads to enormous problems.
This is a release from the City of Ottawa:
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The final phase of the graduated approach to the three-item garbage limit will begin on Monday, December 2. This means, any garbage above the three-item garbage limit must be placed in a City of Ottawa yellow bag. Items above the limit that are not in a yellow bag will be left behind with a courtesy tag indicating the limit.
More than half of waste set out on garbage day can be recycled, composted or even reused. Reduce your garbage items:
Donate gently-used items to local charities, community organizations or your neighbours through your local Buy Nothing groups.
Maximize your recycling and composting. There is no limit to the number of blue, black or green bins and leaf and yard waste.
Get broken items repaired at an upcoming Repair Café.
Not sure where something goes? Use the Waste Explorer to find out.
Garbage container requirements
Garbage container requirements are in place to keep our collection operators safe and prevent injuries. Each operator lifts seven to 10 tonnes of waste and walks almost half a marathon every single day!
If you have a bin larger than 140 litres, you can continue to use it until May 2, 2025. However, your total garbage cannot exceed the total three-item garbage limit of 420 litres. The contents of the bin must not be too heavy for operators to lift safely into the truck. During this time, operators will leave a courtesy tag to indicate that the bin is oversized.
Garbage containers must meet the following requirements:
Up to a maximum of 140 litres capacity
At least one handle
Weighs no more than 15 kilograms / 33 pounds when full. The weight includes the container and the contents.
Removeable watertight lid. Containers must not have hinged lids as these can swing back, possibly hitting and injuring our operators when being emptied.
Be plastic or metal
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A job creating program (read an increase in spending for a city that has a spending problem) to address a situation that less than 8% of the households in the city SOMETIMES contribute to.
On a related note, how’s that waste to energy incineration initiative going Mr. Mayor? The one that was part of your election platform.
So how long will it be before someone produces counterfeit yellow “City” garbage bags? Any bets?
Ron. Even if the city can’t figure out a waste-to-energy solution they can begin putting a process in place by implementing a 2-phased solution to this problem. Phase 1 – incinerate trash, thereby eliminating the need for another landfill (we all know this technology has already been implemented in other geographies). Phase 2 – turn waste to energy when the technology is in place and has been tested. By waiting until a final solution is in place all Mark Sutcliffe is doing is creating a convenient excuse to do nothing.
Is the city forgiving enough to provide an exemption from the 3 bin limit over the Christmas and New Year collection period or will this be a yellow bag cash grab opportunity for the city?
This whole thing is ridiculous. As if the city has no problems and everyone is hokey dory. NOT! By the way why did they decide to have this garbage thing
now? Could it not have waited until after the holidays? Did the city not think (which would be something new for them) that during the holidays before and after, residence throw out all the wrappings, boxes, and of course food that may have been left over and wanted to be thrown out? Gee I wonder how much garbage this mayor and all his councillors will have. Do they get a free pass to throw out everything and not get a bag left over because there was one bag to many?
I have one more comment about this garbage situation. Since the city is basically “forcing”everyone to “do as they are told”. Why doesn’t this “wonderful” mayor find money in his terrible budget and supply each and everyone those yellow bags. Why should the public have to pay for garbage bags to throw away our garbage because we are told to do it their way. Does this comic not think that some families are large and at times more than 3 bags are not enough? Or I don’t know if this allowed any longer but home owners can put in a garbarator in the kitchen sinks, that will eat most of the garbage. Not papers etc, but most food and chicken bones. etc.