The Environment and Climate Change Committee today approved a new Solid Waste Services By-law(link is external) to guide the City’s waste collection, removal and disposal programs.
The new by-law replaces the Solid Waste Management By-law, which has been in place for 13 years. The by-law was updated following a fulsome review and incorporates policy and program changes that Council has approved since 2012. Updates include:
- Transitioning the Blue and Black Box recycling program to provincial regulations
- Transferring responsibility for public waste receptable collection from the City’s Parks Maintenance and Forestry Service to its Solid Waste Services
- Introducing the three-item curbside collection limit
- Requiring mandatory participation in the Green Bin program for multi-residential properties
Language in the new by-law has also been updated for clarity, making it easier to interpret and enforce. It is structured to align with the current Solid Waste Services delivery model and includes all immediate and short-term changes needed to align with the City’s Solid Waste Master Plan.
The Committee also received the results of the annual review of the City’s drinking water quality management system(link is external) and endorsed the current operational plan, as required under Ontario’s Safe Drinking Water Act. The 2023 review found that the system in place has been successful and effective. In the annual external audit, the quality management system received a score of 100 per cent for the twelfth straight year.
The City’s drinking water systems received scores of 100 per cent from provincial inspections and our water quality scored 100 per cent measured against all guidelines and regulatory limits. The review also noted that staff consistently responded effectively to all incidents, ensuring the continuous safety of Ottawa’s drinking water.
Items considered at this meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, October 30.
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