Ottawa city council is considering new charges for garbage collection.
The pay-per-bag policy aims to reduce the number of trash bags left at the curb.
Residents would be required to tag and pay for each bag of garbage.
Similar programs are already successful in Kemptville and Brockville.
South of Ottawa, Kemptville has charged per garbage bags since 1999.
Public Works officials say this has made a considerable impact on the amount of trash in the dumps.
Brockville implemented a single-bag limit twelve years ago. Residents pay $2.50 for each additional bag.
Number of pick-ups to change as well
Council is also deciding when to reduce garbage service to bi-weekly pick-ups.
This will occur after the green box organic recycling program is implemented next fall. Council is mulling over whether to cut back six months or one year after the green box is implemented in October 2009.
Families with young children may have to apply for a special service to have their dirty diapers picked up more regularly.
Green bin test drives
Nine Ottawa neighbourhoods have been using the green box since 2001.
Residents are able to put anything compostable--such as meat, fish, bones, fruits, vegetables, lawn waste--in the bin. Families have been able to cut down on the number of garbage bags that they leave by the road each week.
