Garbage Collection Basics

Household waste that is not recyclable is collected weekly and taken to the landfill. Check the collection calendar to find out which day of the week your garbage is picked up. Only non-recyclable items should be placed in the garbage. To make certain you are not disposing of items that could be recycled, please check the blue and black box information. The Ottawa Green Bin program is a new City of Ottawa initiative that involves collecting residential organic waste (such as food scraps, yard waste or food soiled paper products) and turning it into compost.

How often is garbage collected?

Garbage is collected once a week. Recyclables are picked up on alternating weeks (black box one week, blue box the next). Leaf and yard waste is collected seasonally throughout the year. Check your collection days in the collection calendar. The green bin will be collected every week during the spring, summer and fall, and every two weeks in the winter on your regular collection day.

How many bags / items / cans can be put out?

Only three waste items will be collected each week, excluding recycling and leaf and yard waste. (For example, two garbage bags and one roll of carpeting.)

When and where to put your garbage

Put garbage at the curb any time after 6 p.m. the evening prior to your collection day and no later than 7 a.m. on your collection day. Bags or cans should be placed on the ground as close as possible to the roadway, but not on the sidewalk, traveled roadway or on top of snow banks. Garbage is collected once a week. Recyclable materials and leaf and yard waste are collected as per the calendar. To find out which day of the week your collection takes place, check the collection calendar.

How to package your garbage

Do not put your recyclables, organics or yard waste in plastic bags.
Do not use shopping bags, 'Kitchen Catchers' or cardboard boxes for garbage.
Make sure your material is packaged or contained securely to avoid loose debris.
Separate all broken glass from your garbage and place it in a cardboard box clearly labelled 'broken glass'. Doing otherwise can result in serious injuries to collection operators.
Put sawdust, ashes and other material of similar nature in your green bin. NO hot ashes please!
Do not put more than three waste items (i.e., approved containers/bundles/bulky items) at the curb each week (excluding recyclable material and leaf and yard waste).
Add leaf and yard waste to your green bin. Do not mix leaf and yard waste, recyclables and garbage together.
All carpet should be tied and bundled. Bundles should be less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length, less than 60 cm (2 ft.) in diameter and less than 15 kg (33 lb.) in weight.

Acceptable garbage containers

The lid must be easily detached from the garbage can – free of hinges, ropes or bungee cords.