Litter

Don’t be a LitterBug!

Don't be a Litter Bug! logo

Introducing a blast from the past, the LitterBug! The City of Ottawa has joined over 30 municipalities across Ontario in adopting the City of Mississauga’s LitterBug. Be on the lookout for the LitterBug and remember to do your part - Put litter where it belongs - in the garbage, in the blue box or black box, or compost it.


As Canada’s capital - a key tourist destination for Canadian and international tourists and home to over 800,000 residents- the City of Ottawa strives to maintain its reputation as a caring, safe and environmentally responsible community. A clean, green and litter-free city encourages community pride, neighbourhood vitality, business prosperity, tourism and preserves a high quality of life for all residents.

But even in Ottawa litter is a concern. You can find it on our streets, sidewalks, bus stops, boulevards, parks, beaches, schoolyards and many other locations where it does not belong. The City is responsible for litter pickup on our streets, sidewalks, parks and facilities but we need your help to keep Ottawa’s public spaces free of litter.

Litter is a serious problem

  1. It affects your health
  • Children can cut themselves on broken glass and metal.
  • Rotting trash and pet droppings contain germs and disease as well as attracts flies, maggots, rats, mice, seagulls, etc.
  1. It affects the environment
  • Small litter items such as rope, nets and fishing line can suffocate or injure wildlife.
  • Litter such as motor oil can get into our rivers and streams and poison our fish and wildlife.
  • Litter can be washed into our storm sewers which ultimately affects the water quality of our rivers and fish habitat.
  1. It affects the economy
  • Litter-strewn neighbourhoods can depress real estate prices, hinder economic development, and inhibits visitors and tourists.

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Vision

A clean, green, litter-free Ottawa.

Mission

To reduce litter in Ottawa through:

  • Increased awareness
  • Continuous co-operation and communication
  • Enhancing promotion and education
  • Sustained community involvement

Goals

  • To improve the natural environment and preserve the water quality of our rivers and fish habitats
  • To beautify our public spaces
  • To alter littering behaviour through developing the community’s sense of ownership
  • To increase community participation through awareness campaigns and litter clean-up activities and
  • To make the “Don’t be a LitterBug” phrase and image widely recognized by Ottawa residents businesses and tourists

What the City of Ottawa does for you

  • During the summer, litter receptacles are emptied regularly by student staff called the “Bucket Beat Brigade,” who also collect litter in the downtown core.
  • Every week litter is cleaned off of City sports fields.
  • Litter receptacles receive particular attention during special events, such as parades and statutory celebrations.
  • The City has various programs to encourage residents to maintain Ottawa’s beauty including Spring and Fall Cleaning the Capital, graffiti removal and our Adopt-a Park/Adopt-a-Roadway Program.

What can you do?

As an Ottawa resident there’s a lot you can do to combat litter.

  • Don’t be a LitterBug. Put litter where it belongs – in the garbage, recycling bin or compost it. Others will follow your lead.
  • Put your garbage and recycling out on your collection day. Check the waste collection calendar for your collection day and make sure to properly package your materials for collection.
  • Recycle as much as you can. Recycling is picked up on an alternating week schedule (black box one week – paper/cardboard,blue box the next week - glass/metal/plastic).
  • Take it Back! Participating local retailers accept items that are not picked up by the City’s curbside collection including automotive parts and supplies, electronics, garden supplies, health-related products and supplies, and household products. Check the Take it Back! directory for retailers and a complete list of accepted products.
  • Recycle your plastic bags. As part of Take it Back!, the City has partnered with Metro to offer residents a plastic-bag recycling program. View the full list of 19 Metro retailers and other participating businesses.
  • Household Hazardous Waste Depots. Corrosive, explosive, flammable or poisonous items contaminate water and landfills and should never be poured down the drain or put out with your regular garbage. The City of Ottawa operates several one-day Household Hazardous Waste Depots for residents to safely dispose of hazardous waste.
  • Composting is nature’s way of recycling. By working with nature you can turn your kitchen and yard waste into compost, and use it to enrich the soil for your garden, lawn, and indoor plants. Organic materials such as food scraps, yard waste or food soiled paper products should be placed in your Green Bin.
  • Leaf-and-yard waste is collected every other week between April and November on your regular collection day. The City produces thousands of tonnes of compost at the Trail Waste Facility from leaf-and-yard waste collected at the curb. When available, compost produced at the Trail Waste Facility can be bought by Ottawa residents for a small fee. Please call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) to confirm availability and cost.
  • RETHINK GARBAGE. You can help Ottawa meet our goal to reduce, reuse and recycle 40 per cent of our household waste.
  • Show the LitterBug to remind others to put litter where it belongs. Contact us for your copy of the LitterBug logo.
  • Get involved. Show your community pride. Clean up public property or an area in your neighbourhood.
  • Organize a cleanup project as part of the City’s Spring and Fall Cleaning the Capital campaigns. Participants may request cleanup starter kits (available while supplies last) and are eligible to win prizes donated by campaign sponsors.
  • Adopt-a Park/Adopt-a-Roadway is a citywide program that encourages community involvement in the care and maintenance of Ottawa’s parks and roadways. Participants are acknowledged with a sign displaying the name of the adopting individual or group at the adopted park or roadway.
  • Is litter a problem in your area? Let the City know. Call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or e-mail us.

Contact Us

By mail:
Public Works Department
100 Constellation Drive, 5th floor,
Ottawa, Ontario K2G 6J8

By telephone: 3-1-1
By e-mail: cleaning@ottawa.ca

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