Curbside collection days changing March 30: City of Ottawa

The City of Ottawa says approximately 50 per cent of residents can expect their waste collection day to change.

Starting Monday, March 30, the city will begin a new contract for the collection of garbage, green bin, and leaf and yard waste. The new contract was approved by council in September 2023.

Residents are reminded to check their updated collection schedule using the online collection calendar before March 30.

Along with the changes in scheduling, residents will also be required to set leaf and yard waste out separately from the green bin, either in paper yard bags or an acceptable reusable container marked “leaf and yard waste.”

Collection frequency will remain the same. Garbage will be collected every two weeks, while green bin and yard waste collection will occur every week.

Holiday “push days” will also continue. There are two holidays within the first two weeks of the contract. Good Friday (April 3) will result in a push day for Friday collection. Easter Monday (April 6) will shift the city-wide collection by one day that week.

“To help ease the transition to new curbside collection schedules, the City will allow each curbside household to place up to six garbage items at the curb on their new scheduled collection day between March 30 and April 24, 2026,” Shelley McDonald, director of Solid Waste Services in the Public Works Department said in a memo to council. “Residents are reminded to continue using all waste diversion programs, including green bin and recycling, through this transition and forward.”

Staff said more ward specific information will be provided to councillors in the coming weeks.