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One week into Ottawa’s new garbage rules. How is the city fairing?

For the month of October officials are focusing on education over enforcement when it comes to Ottawa's new three-limit garbage rules.

Good morning!

It seems fall has arrived. I had to put a sweater on for the first time while attending the 613Flea Market on Saturday and dug out a trench coat on Sunday. 

It was a pleasure to attend the CIBC Run for the Cure at the Rideau Carleton Raceway over the weekend. The race kicked off with local singer Arlene Quinn debuting her new single, “Wonder Woman”, performed in honour of her sister Cheryl who beat an aggressive form of breast cancer. We profiled Areleme a few weeks ago. Here is the link if you missed it

I got to attend the event with my mom, a cancer Stage 3 lung survivor herself,  whose picture was featured in Arlene’s latest music video of the song. Cancer is a disease that can impact us all, and I’m inspired by the survivors like my mom everyday. She’s beaten the odds, which at many times were stacked against her, and recently had successful radiation treatment to kill off a cancerous growth that was found on her brain. The technology used is relatively new and showing promising results. It’s a reminder that all money donated to cancer research makes a significant difference for those battling the disease. 

From left to right: Cancer survivor Glenda Senack, singer Arlene Quinn, and Ottawa Lookout writer Charlie Senack. Photo by Heather Tessier.

If you’re curious to learn more about my mom Glenda’s story, you can read my previous article in the Ottawa Citizen or the profile CBC did on us when she contracted COVID-19 in the hospital. 

It’s been about a week since new garbage rules were enacted in Ottawa. While this period is just about education, items will soon be left on the curb if they don’t follow the new guidelines. In this newsletter we have a reminder of what they are and how Ottawa residents are responding. 

A quick ask: The Lookout is planning to write more featured stories. If you have any ideas you feel should be covered, please drop me an email and let me know. 

Let’s get to the Important news of the day! 

— Charlie Senack, [email protected]

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Monday: 14 🌡️ 4 |

Tuesday: 14🌡️ 2 |

Wednesday: 12 🌡️ 3 | 🌧

CITY HALL

One week into Ottawa’s new garbage rules. How is the city fairing?

Three garbage bags wait for pickup on Chesterton Drive in Nepean. Photo by Charlie Senack.

Varying opinions: Ottawa’s new garbage rules have been in Ottawa for a week now, and reactions to the changes are mixed. Only three items are allowed to be put on the curb every two weeks, but what they are can vary in size. 

What’s new: Three items could be three garbage bags, three 140-litre garbage bins, three bulky items such as furniture, or any trio combination of what’s listed above. Multiple bags are able to fit in the bins, as long as the weight is less than 33 pounds each. 

  • Can more be thrown out? Yes. But it will cost you. The city says residential yellow bags can be purchased from participating retailers for $17.60 for a package of four. Need some? Here are more details.

Excess waste can also be taken to the Trail Road Landfill, but that will also cost you $35. Readers who have unavoidable waste from diapers, incontinence products and/or home healthcare waste can also sign up for a Special Consideration Program.

So why are these changes happening? Ottawa’s landfill is near capacity. The Trail Waste Facility landfill is estimated to reach capacity between 2034 and 2035, if habits remain the same and population continues to increase, wrote CityNews. A recent report states that Ottawa’s population is supposed to rise to 1.5 million by 2053. 

  • What’s the goal? Ottawa is hopeful residents will reduce waste by about 31,000 tonnes and divert almost one million tonnes of waste from the landfill. 

Education before enforcement: The month of October will be spent educating Ottawa residents about what the new rules are and reminding us all that additional garbage will be left on the curb. On social media, many users have stated they’ve received tags on bags — typically because their bins are too large. 

All garbage will continue to be picked up regardless until November, when staff will start cataloguing any additional garbage. It will mostly be picked up, but one bag will be left behind as a reminder. December is when full enforcement will apply, and all additional bags or items will be left behind. 

  • The rules do not apply to the plastic, paper or green bin recycling programs. 

CITY of Ottawa handout photo.

What are the problems with these tactics?  For starters, the rules don’t apply to condos and apartments, which would be hard to enforce. Most of these settings have communal garbage pads, which are shared amongst residents. For now, at least, the three-bag limit won’t be enforced in these settings. They could cause problems with illegal dumping down the line. Then there is the issue of house sizes. A family of two or three would typically have less garbage than a family of eight. Regardless, both will have to follow the same protocols when throwing out their trash. 

Other options reviewed: When the city council was tasked with deciding how to evolve its garbage collection program to be more environmentally friendly, they looked at perhaps using garbage tags. Residents told councillors it would have been overly bureaucratic.  At the time, it was proposed that 55 bag tags by provided to each property taxpayer every year, and additional ones could purchased for $3 each, reported CBC

  • Rules not new: Since 2007 there were rules that only allowed for six bags of garbage to be picked up per cycle. They were rarely, if ever, enforced.  

Promising signs: New statistics show that two months before the new rules started, a reduction in garbage being thrown out was already happening. A total of 10,655 tonnes of garbage was sent to the landfill this September, compared to 10,645 tonnes in September 2023. For August 11,017 tonnes of waste went into the landfill compared to 11,931 tonnes of waste produced in August 2023. That’s a 7.7 per cent reduction, reported CTV

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🥶 2 C: The low temperature in Ottawa Sunday which resulted in this season's first frost warning being issued. [CTV] 

📸 7,500: The number of tickets a new photo radar camera on King Edward Avenue issued during its first month in operation. [CTV]

👔 2027: The year realtors suggest Ottawa’s office vacancy numbers will return to single digits. [Ottawa Business Journal]

🏥 $830,000: The amount of money raised at CHEO’s Race for the Kids. [Ottawa Citizen]

Staying informed about the world doesn’t have to be boring

While we keep you updated on Ottawa, International Intrigue keeps you informed about the world.

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Want to sponsoThanks to today’s sponsor. If you’d like to tell over 40,0000 readers in the Capital Region about your event, business or nonprofit, contact our sales team.

NEW LOCAL JOBS

Check out the new open positions in Ottawa:

  1. Part-time service representative at City of Ottawa. 

  2. Call centre agent at Mercedes-Benz in Downtown Ottawa. 

  3. Account manager at TK Elevator Canada Ltd.   

  4. Project manager at Thales. 

  5. Research and development officer at the University of Ottawa.

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted. 

THE AGENDA

🎶 A new music festival at the Ottawa Art Gallery is looking to introduce art lovers about Canadian-made classical music while also tackling the city’s homeless crisis. Leading the show will be the world premiere of Frank Horvat’s “Almost Homeless – Ottawa”, which examines the realities faced by a growing number of people who are grappling with financial hardships and the high cost of living. [Kitchissippi Times]

🏈 It’s good news for football lovers. For the first time since 2018, the Ottawa RedBlacks have won a spot in the playoffs. It’s all thanks to a Blue Bombers win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. [CBC]

🛴 An Ottawa teenager is recovering from a traumatic brain injury and is unable to speak after she was struck at a crosswalk near Carling Ave and Saigon Court last Monday. Audrey Cameron’s family says the 15-year-old Nepean High School student was riding e-scooters with her older brother to school when the accident occurred. The family said they have safety concerns over the intersection, but Coun. Jeff Leiper said he’s received no such complaints. [CBC]

🚓 Ottawa Police are looking for witnesses after a male cyclist in his 40s died after being hit by a vehicle Thursday night on Hunt Club west of Merivale Rd. “Investigators would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage of this incident and has not yet spoken to police,” law enforcement said in a press release. [Ottawa Citizen]

🧪 Ottawa's wastewater surveillance program has been extended for one more year. Local health and research institutions are teaming up to support the program monitoring wastewater levels of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and mpox. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏈 The UOttawa Gee Gees won Ottawa’s famed Panda Game held at Lansdowne Park against the Carleton Ravens on Sunday. Around 24,000 fans were in attendance. uOttawa has the overall record of 38-17 wins in the long-running football tradition that has been in place since 1955. While no major issues were reported last year, police said they would be monitoring the Sandy Hill and Glebe neighbourhoods. [CTV]

🇵🇸 Days before events are held across the city to mark the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, hundreds of demonstrators marched through the streets of downtown Ottawa to demand an end to the years-long war. The rally was organized as part of the Palestinian Youth Movement's "International Day of Action for Palestine." [CTV]

Capital EatsHelping you discover the best restaurants, food and drinks in Ottawa and the Capital Region. From the team at Ottawa Lookout. Read by 18,000+ locals.
EVENTS

What to do this week

Songs from the Shed | On Sparks Street between Bank St & O’Connor St near 190 Sparks St | Oct. 10 | A collaboration between the Sparks Street BIA and the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is bringing local music to The Shed on Sparks St all summer long | Free.

World Space Week | Canada Aviation and Space Museum, 11 Aviation Parkway | Until Oct. 10 | Celebrate World Space Week at the museum with activities for space enthusiasts of all ages | Price of admission

Cinq à sept: A ByWard Concert Series | 55 ByWard Market Square | Oct. 10 | Enjoy an array of musical acts every Thursday night beside the iconic ByWard clock | Free

Carrot Fest | Ottawa Farm Fresh, 2811 Ramsayville Rd |  Oct. 12 | Join the Ottawa Farm Fresh in the fields to help harvest thousands of pounds of carrots, connect with the land and people that grow your food and learn some of what it takes to tend and harvest the food that nourishes you all year long | Free

York Street Market | on York St. | Oct. 13 | Visit the ByWard Market every other Sunday to explore 30+ vendors offering handmade goods like home decor, jewellery, cider, spices and more! | Free

Watson’s Mill Harvest Festival | Watson’s Mill, 5525 Dickinson St. |  Oct. 13 | Come to Watson's Mill for their annual Harvest Festival! There are a bunch of activities and crafts. It's sure to be fun for the whole family | Free

Expression of Art | Agricultural Hall, Carp Fairgrounds, 3970 Carp Rd. | Until Oct. 13 | This exhibition and sale brings together more than 30 area artists, showing original, high-quality fine art and crafts | Free

Bug Adventure | Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St | Until Oct. 13 | It's amazing what bugs can do — and you can too — in this larger-than-life exhibition. Let the design team behind The Lord of the Rings and Avatar take you on a bug adventure | Price of admission

Jon Dore & Dave Merheje | Algonquin Commons Theatre, 1385 Woodroffe Ave | Oct. 14 | Juno Award-winning stand-up comedians Jon Dore and Dave Merheje will headline the new Comedy Here, There & Everywhere Tour featuring special guests Ali Hassan and Allie Pearse | Tickets start at $26.

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COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Rev. Anthony Bailey is retiring after 25 years at Parkdale United Church. [CTV]

  • Looking for a job? Curious about your career options? Ottawa’s biggest and best career expo is coming on Oct. 17th at the Shaw Centre. Get face-to-face with 75+ of the region’s best employers. Visit www.bestplacestoworkexpo.ca. [Sponsored]

  • A new book is being released profiling the trees in the Dominion Arboretum. [Kitchissippi Times]

  • It’s time for some more history: Here is a look back at the “Hintonburg Howitzer” which used to be located in Somerset Square. [Kitchissippi Times]

  • Rare cloud formations were in the skies over Ottawa Sunday evening. Here is what they were. [CTV]

  • Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

COMMUNITY PHOTO

Zakir Hossain posted this photo to the Ottawa Photography Network Facebook page showing rare asperitas clouds over the city on Sunday night.

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to everyone who got last week’s Ottawa Wordle, the answer was '“Trillium”.

For this week’s Ottawa Quiz, we want to know what are your thoughts on Ottawa’s new garbage rules?

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