Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

The City of Ottawa is developing a Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy as a component projects of the broader Solid Waste Master Plan. The Strategy will provide recommendations on how to increase waste diversion in the multi-residential sector by reviewing, enhancing, and developing pilots, policies and initiatives designed to increase participation and engagement in programs offered by the City.

The City provides waste collection services to approximately 2,150 multi-residential properties. Waste audit studies show that 74% of all waste disposed of at multi-residential properties is thrown in the garbage, and 58% could be diverted through recycling and green bin programs.

Aiming to increase waste diversion supports both provincial direction and City initiatives:

  • The Province’s Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement provides direction to multi-residential properties to increase waste reduction and resource recovery of food and organic waste. The Provincial target for multi-residential properties is 50% waste reduction and recovery of food and organic waste by 2025.
  • The Province of Ontario is committed to phasing out food and organic waste from landfills by 2030.
  • The City’s Energy Evolution project calls for 98% organics diversion from landfill and 100% diversion of paper products.

The project is recommending five pillars to support increasing waste diversion at multi-residential properties. Each pillar will include project recommendations to support the pillars:


If you would like to receive updates on waste management projects, subscribe to the Solid Waste Master Plan newsletter

The City of Ottawa is developing a Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy as a component projects of the broader Solid Waste Master Plan. The Strategy will provide recommendations on how to increase waste diversion in the multi-residential sector by reviewing, enhancing, and developing pilots, policies and initiatives designed to increase participation and engagement in programs offered by the City.

The City provides waste collection services to approximately 2,150 multi-residential properties. Waste audit studies show that 74% of all waste disposed of at multi-residential properties is thrown in the garbage, and 58% could be diverted through recycling and green bin programs.

Aiming to increase waste diversion supports both provincial direction and City initiatives:

  • The Province’s Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement provides direction to multi-residential properties to increase waste reduction and resource recovery of food and organic waste. The Provincial target for multi-residential properties is 50% waste reduction and recovery of food and organic waste by 2025.
  • The Province of Ontario is committed to phasing out food and organic waste from landfills by 2030.
  • The City’s Energy Evolution project calls for 98% organics diversion from landfill and 100% diversion of paper products.

The project is recommending five pillars to support increasing waste diversion at multi-residential properties. Each pillar will include project recommendations to support the pillars:


If you would like to receive updates on waste management projects, subscribe to the Solid Waste Master Plan newsletter

  • Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy is approved by City Council

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Ottawa City Council received and approved the Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy report on April 27th, 2022. The report recommended that Council:

    1. 1. Approve the scope, framework, and project pillars for the Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy; and,
    2. Direct staff to finalize the detailed cost analysis and implementation plan for onboarding all multi-residential properties to a mandatory organics diversion program, and report back to Council in the first half of 2023.

    Read the full strategy here.

    What are the next steps?

    Beginning June 1, 2022, any property that begins receiving City collection services would be required to participate in the Green Bin program.

    Multi-residential properties already receiving City waste collection can continue to sign up for the program voluntarily for the remainder of 2022.

    Staff will work on developing an implementation plan to onboard all remaining multi-residential properties to the Green Bin program. An update on the implementation plan, including the timeline and program requirements, will be shared with City Council in 2023.



  • Engagement is complete!

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    Engagement on the Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy has ended, thank you for providing your feedback. A “What we Learned Report” , summarizing feedback from residents, the property management sector, City Councillors and the Solid Waste Master Plan’s Stakeholder Sounding Board has been completed. Feedback will contribute to the implementation of the Multi-Residential Waste Diversion Strategy.

Page last updated: 29 Jan 2024, 03:51 PM