City of Ottawa looked at these garbage policies before proposing a bag tag program
The city of Ottawa looked at four short-term measures to help extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill before proposing a bag tag program, but staff said the other options would either be difficult to enforce or would have a lower impact on waste diversion.
The environment and climate change committee will vote Monday on the proposed "partial-pay-as-you-throw" program for garbage collection, with council having the final say on June 14.
Under the proposed bag tag program, homeowners would be required to put city of Ottawa issued tags on every piece of garbage set out at the curb. Homeowners would receive 55 bag tags for the year, with a $3 charge for every extra bag, bin or piece of garbage put out for collection.
Staff say the partial-pay-as-you-throw program would reduce garbage tonnage by up to 10 per cent per capita in year one and up to 28 per cent per capita by year five. It would also increase waste diversion rates by up to six per cent.
If the bag tag program is approved, it would be implemented in the spring of 2024.
A report for the committee says the city of Ottawa looked at three other policy options to encourage waste diversion and extend the life of the landfill: Firm Garbage Limits, a material ban on recycling and organics in garbage bags, and a clear bag garbage program with a recycling and organics ban for garbage.
Council has directed staff to look at waste diversion technologies and report back in the fall as part of the draft Solid Waste Master Plan.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the other policy options considered by the city before staff proposed the partial pay-as-you-throw program.
Firm garbage limits
What is it?
A firm garbage limit would limit the number of garbage items that can be placed out for collection. No waste above the set limit would be collected. Staff say a firm garbage limit would result in an up to 11 per cent reduction in garbage tonnage per capita by year five.
Why was it not recommended?
"The consultant’s estimates suggest that a Firm Garbage Limit policy would have a lower impact on Ottawa’s diversion rate and lower ability to reduce waste than a Partial Pay-As-You-Throw program or Clear Bag Garbage Program," the report says.
Material bans on recycling and organic waste
What is it?
A material ban on recycling and organic waste would prohibit materials from garbage bags that could be diverted through the curbside recycling and green bin programs. Staff say a material ban on recycling and organics paired with a bag tag program or firm garbage limit could increase the diversion rate by an additional one per cent.
Why was it not recommended?
"Difficult to enforce in absence of a clear bag garbage program. Staff recommend focusing on educating residents about proper sorting of recycling and organic waste to align with the City’s Solid Waste Management By-law requirement of sorting waste," staff say.
Clear bag garbage program with recycling and organics ban
What is it?
A clear bag garbage program would require households to use transparent bags for curbside garbage collection. Garbage bags with excessive recycling and/or organic waste would not be collected.
Staff say this option could reduce garbage tonnage by up to 33 per cent per capita by the fifth year, and increase waste diversion rates by 10 per cent.
Why was it not recommended?
"Estimated impact on diversion was dependent upon the enforcement of a recycling and organic waste ban," staff say in the report.
"Concerns were raised by stakeholders about the ability to enforce a ban given the number of households receiving collection each day and the number of households that use garbage bins (concealing the clear bag). Many respondents, especially in rural areas, stated they require their bins to reduce concerns with pests and wildlife."
Survey highlights
The bag tag program was the preferred option for a curbside waste diversion policy, according to the report.
Staff say 40 per cent of respondents to a survey and 31 per cent of participants in panel discussions said a partial pay-as-you-throw program was their preferred option.
Firm garbage limits were the preferred option for 22 per cent of respondents to the public survey and 29 per cent of panel participants.
Staff say when it came to the garbage limit, 70 per cent of public respondents and 90 per cent of panel respondents supported reducing the limit from the current six.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.