Ottawa council dumps proposed garbage bag tags in favour of three-bin limit
CTV
Ottawa city council trashed the idea of proposed bag tags for household garbage, voting instead to place a hard cap on the amount of waste residents can place at the curb.
Ottawa city council trashed the idea of proposed bag tags for household garbage Wednesday, voting instead to place a hard cap on the amount of waste residents can place at the curb.
Council voted to limit households to three garbage bins every two weeks. Residents will also not need to use or pay for any bag tags for extra garbage.
The proposed 'bag tag' program had been introduced by city staff as a way to increase waste diversion rates and extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill. But both city councillors and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said many residents raised concerns about the proposal.
On Wednesday, city councillor Sean Devine introduced a ‘bag tag' motion, which included a two container limit and charging homeowners for any extra tags. That motion failed by a vote of 10-14.
According to city staff, 80 per cent of residents put out three containers or less of garbage. About three quarters put out two bags or less. Staff say a three container limit would divert less waste from the landfill than the failed bag and tag proposal.
City staff say enforcement of the new limits will be gradual with a heavy emphasis on education, followed by garbage collectors placing a notice sticker on extra bags. Eventually, anything other than three garbage containers would not be collected.
City staff have budgeted for two more enforcement officers as well as working with bylaw and road services, council heard.
