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
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Ontario reveals highest public sector salaries in sunshine list
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
Fallen crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison
Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for a massive fraud that unravelled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency.