City of Ottawa moving to next phase of pilot project to improve recycling in parks

The City of Ottawa is set to expand on its Recycling in the Parks pilot project this spring. 

Between 2017 and 2020, Solid Waste Services (SWS) conducted three pilot programs in order to find the best way to roll-out a comprehensive recycling program for Ottawa's parks. The initial phase saw the installation of large recycling carts in the parking lots of seven parks. 

This phase was deemed unsuccessful, with staff reporting that the bins were under-utilized and highly contaminated. In some cases, the entire bin was deemed contaminated, resulting in the entire unit being thrown out. According to city officials, possible contributing factors included poor labelling and the fact the recycling bins were paired with garbage cans.

The city considered these factors as it moved into phase two of the project. 

During this phase, larger containers were placed close to the garbage bins, and had three different lids in order to test if lid size and colour affected contamination rates. Through this method, the city determined the best lids for preventing contamination had smaller, restrictive openings. But officials say that created new issues: the smaller openings were easy to clog, making it look like the bins were overflowing. 

Through phase two, the city did learn the large recycling bins didn't need to be emptied as often, there was less contamination and more residents were using them.

During phase three, the existing waste receptacles were removed from 10 parks and replaced with large, wheeled collection carts. These were for garbage, blue box recycling and organics, including dog waste.  It was determined that 72 per cent of the waste from these locations, that would have ended up at the landfill, was diverted to the recycling and organics bins. It also showed that 75 per cent of what could be recycled was placed in the recycling bins and 79 per cent of organics material was placed in the green bins.

This spring, the city will move into the fourth phase of the project, expanding these bins into approximately 20 parks throughout the city. 

City staff members will be looking for input from city council on which parks to include in this phase of the project.

The fourth phase will run until the spring of 2022. Results from all four phases will then be used in the development of a future city-wide Recycling in Parks program as part of the city's Solid Waste Master Plan.