Ottawa garbage collectors will begin leaving additional trash at the curb this week, as the city steps up enforcement of the new three-waste limit.

The new waste limit took effect Sept. 30, as the city seeks to extend the life of the Trail Road landfill. In October, all waste was collected and a courtesy tag was placed if the three-waste limit was exceeded.

Starting this week, the city will begin enforcing the new three-item limit, with collectors leaving one item at the curb with a courtesy tag if a household exceeds the trash limit. Households wishing to have more than three items for curbside pickup will need to place them in a City of Ottawa yellow bag.

The yellow bags are available at 11 hardware stores, 13 community centers and six customer service centers across the city, with four bags costing $17.60.

In December, all trash over the limit of three will be placed at the curb with a courtesy tag, unless it is in a yellow bag.

There is no limit on the number of items in recycling and composting bins.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know about the three-item waste limit.

What is considered waste?

Waste can be a garbage bag, a 140 liter container or a bulky object. The city says households can put several small bags in containers up to 140 liters, “provided the weight is less than 33 pounds per bin.”

An object can also be a piece of furniture or a bulky object that cannot be reused or donated.

What are examples of combinations of three elements?

The City of Ottawa says households can throw out any combination of accepted waste as long as they respect the limit of three. The three wastes can be trash cans or cans/containers or even three bulky objects.

Examples include:

• Two trash cans and a broken chair
• Two black trash bags and a trash can
• Three bins
• Three plastic garbage bags

The City of Ottawa is providing examples of the new three-item waste limit, which comes into effect September 30. (City of Ottawa/news release)

Yellow bags

From November, any trash exceeding the three-item limit must be placed in a yellow bag.

The yellow bags will be sold in packs of four for $17.60.

“There is no limit to the number of yellow bags that can be purchased and placed on trash day,” the city says.

The city specifies that bulky objects and furniture cannot be put in bags.

Excess waste can also be taken to the Trail Road Landfill. The minimum fee for waste disposal is $35.

Here is the list where yellow bags are available:

Ottawa Customer Service Centers are located during business hours.

Retailers

• Beacon Hill Home Hardware, 1934 Montreal Road located at Square Ogilvie.
• Bridlewood Home Hardware, 90 Michael Cowpland Drive.
• Capital Home Hardware, 736 Bank Street.
• Elmvale Acres Home Hardware, 1910 Saint-Laurent Boulevard located in the Elmvale Acres shopping center.
• Leitrim Hardware, 4836 Bank Street.
• Manotick Home Hardware, 1166 Beaverwood Road, located in Manotick Stables.
• Morris Home Hardware, 1226 Wellington Street.
• Stittsville Home Hardware, 6001 Hazeldean Road.
• Trudel Home Hardware, 329 March Road.
• Orléans Home Hardware, 470 Charlemagne Boulevard.
• Richmond BMR, 6379 Perth Road.

Recreation and community centers

• Albion-Heatherington Recreation Center1560 Heatherington Road.
• Alexandre Community Center960 Silver Street.
• Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex – Orléans1490 Youville Drive.
• CARDELREC Goulbourn recreational complex1500 Shea Road.
• Carleton Heights Community Center1665, avenue Apeldoorn.
• François-Dupuis recreational center2263 Portobello Boulevard.
• Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Center3320 Paul Anka Drive.
• Jack Purcell Community Center320 Jack Purcell Lane.
• Minto Recreation Complex – Barrhaven3500 Cambrian Road.
• Nepean Sports Complex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue
• Overbrook Community Center33 Quill Street
• Saint-Laurent Complex, 525 Côté Street
• Walter Baker Sports Center,100 Malvern Drive.