Your Ottawa Trash Day — No More Guessing
If you live in Ottawa, missing garbage day usually happens for one of three reasons: your collection day changed after the new 2026 curbside contract, a holiday pushed pickup later, or you assumed bulky items or extra bags worked the same way they used to. This guide makes it simple. You can check your exact schedule fast, understand the three-item garbage limit, and avoid the mistakes that get bags left behind at the curb.
📑 What’s in this guide
Ottawa’s curbside waste system includes garbage, bulky items, blue and black bin recycling, green bin organics, and leaf and yard waste. Starting January 1, 2026, blue and black bin recycling collection moved to Circular Materials and its contractor, while starting March 30, 2026, the City began a new curbside collection contract that changed the collection day for many households. That makes the official collection calendar more important than ever.
No later than 7:00 a.m.
or 613-580-2400
1-888-852-2374
How to Find Your Ottawa Trash Pickup Day
Ottawa uses a personalized collection calendar instead of a one-rule-fits-all citywide schedule. Because many households had their collection day changed starting March 30, 2026, the only reliable way to know your current garbage, recycling and green bin day is to check your address in the official tool.
- Open the official Ottawa Collection Calendar. Go to the City of Ottawa collection calendar.
- Enter your address exactly. The schedule is tied to your property, so use your actual service address rather than a nearby street.
- Check all streams together. The calendar shows garbage, recycling, green bin, and leaf and yard waste service dates in one place.
- Sign up for reminders. Ottawa lets residents receive collection reminders by email, text, phone, or calendar sync.
- Use the Ottawa Collection Calendar app. The city’s official app gives pickup reminders and schedule access right on your phone.
Ottawa Trash Pickup Schedule: What Runs When
Ottawa collection includes more than just garbage bags. The city provides curbside collection for garbage, bulky items, green bin organics, leaf and yard waste, and blue/black bin recycling. Your exact dates appear in the collection calendar, but the service categories work like this.
| Service | Container / Setup | Frequency | How It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garbage | Bags, cans, or approved containers | Biweekly | Three-item limit applies for most curbside households |
| Bulky Items | Curbside item set-out | Same garbage day | Placed out with regular garbage collection |
| Recycling | Blue box / black box | Address calendar | Collection is now managed by Circular Materials |
| Green Bin | Green bin organics | Address calendar | Organics pickup continues on your collection day |
| Leaf & Yard Waste | Paper bags or labelled reusable containers | Seasonal weekly collection | Must be set out separately from green bin |
Ottawa’s curbside contract update in 2026 kept all waste streams on the same collection day for each household, but many addresses moved to a different weekday. That means once you confirm your new day, your garbage, organics, leaf and yard waste, and recycling still line up together.
Ottawa’s Three-Item Garbage Limit
One of the most important Ottawa waste rules is the three-item garbage limit. The city says curbside households cannot set out more than three garbage items on collection day unless the extra garbage is placed in a City-branded yellow bag.
Garbage Limit
Transition Rule
Extra Garbage
A garbage item can be a garbage bag, a garbage can or container up to the allowed size, or a bulky item. The rule is meant to reduce landfill waste and encourage residents to use recycling and green bin service more consistently.
- Regular curbside garbage is limited to three items
- Extra garbage above the limit must go in a City-branded yellow bag
- Bulky items count as an item
- Recycling and green bin material are not part of the garbage-item limit
⭐ Ottawa rule many people miss
Residents often focus on the bag count and forget that large furniture, mattresses, and other bulky articles count as garbage items too. That means a couch, a chair, and one garbage can already uses up your three-item allowance for that collection day.
If you are doing a cleanup, the easiest way to avoid being left with garbage at the curb is to divert everything possible into blue box, black box, or green bin first, then use yellow bags only for true extra garbage that cannot wait.
Ottawa Blue and Black Bin Recycling
Starting January 1, 2026, Ottawa’s residential blue and black bin collection and processing moved from the City to Circular Materials and its contractor. That means recycling still happens curbside, but some recycling questions now go to the collection contractor rather than the City’s garbage department.
Important recycling contact for 2026:
- Miller Waste: 1-888-852-2374
- Email: area2@millerwaste.ca
Residents should still use the Ottawa collection calendar for schedule lookup, but for recycling-specific missed pickups or service questions, Ottawa directed many residents to Miller Waste after the January 2026 handoff.
Ottawa Green Bin and Leaf & Yard Waste
Ottawa’s green bin program handles food waste and other approved organic material, while leaf and yard waste continues as a separate curbside stream. The city’s 2026 contract update specifically says leaf and yard waste is collected weekly in season, but it must be set out separately from the green bin.
| ✅ Green Bin / Yard Waste Notes | 📌 Setup Rules |
|---|---|
| Green bin continues on your scheduled collection day | Set out after 6 p.m. night before and no later than 7 a.m. |
| Leaf and yard waste continues weekly in season | Must be separate from the green bin |
| Use brown paper bags or labelled reusable containers for yard waste | Do not mix loose yard waste into regular garbage |
| Food scraps and organics should go into the green bin | Check the calendar for exact collection weeks |
Ottawa’s waste strategy puts a lot of emphasis on diversion, which means residents who use the green bin correctly usually find the three-item garbage limit much easier to manage.
Ottawa Bulky Item Pickup
Ottawa allows large bulky items such as furniture and mattresses to be picked up at the curb. The city says bulky items should be put out before 7:00 a.m. on your collection day, and they are collected with regular curbside garbage.
Common bulky item examples:
- Furniture
- Mattresses
- Bicycles
- Floor lamps
- Garden hoses
- Hot tub covers
Because bulky items count toward the garbage limit, it is smart to plan big cleanouts around what else you are setting out that week.
- Check your collection calendar first. Bulky items go out on your regular garbage day.
- Place the item out before 7 a.m. Ottawa uses the same collection timing rule for bulky items as other curbside waste.
- Do not bag bulky articles. Furniture and mattresses should be set out as items, not forced into bags.
- Remember the item count. A bulky article counts as one garbage item.
- Separate special waste. Electronics, hazardous waste, and certain special products do not belong in curbside bulky pickup.
Ottawa 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule
Ottawa says there is no curbside collection of green bin, recycling, or garbage on listed statutory holidays. When a holiday affects service, collection is delayed by one day for the rest of the week, moving Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, and Friday to Saturday.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Collection delayed by one day for the rest of the week |
| Family Day | Monday, February 16, 2026 | No curbside collection on the holiday; affected routes shift |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3, 2026 | No curbside collection; affected routes shift |
| Easter Monday | Monday, April 6, 2026 | No curbside collection; affected routes shift |
| Victoria Day | Monday, May 18, 2026 | Holiday delay applies |
| Canada Day | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | Holiday delay applies |
| Civic Holiday | Monday, August 3, 2026 | Holiday delay applies |
| Labour Day | Monday, September 7, 2026 | Holiday delay applies |
| Thanksgiving | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Holiday delay applies |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 | Holiday delay applies |
| Boxing Day | Saturday, December 26, 2026 | Check collection calendar for affected routes |
Good Friday and Easter Monday both affect Ottawa curbside collection in 2026, so do not assume spring pickup stays normal. The city specifically reminded residents about those Easter-week delays when the new curbside contract began.
What to Do If Ottawa Missed Your Pickup
If your waste was out correctly and collection did not happen, the right contact depends on the service type. Garbage and organic-waste issues can still go through Ottawa 311, but recycling may need to go through the recycling contractor.
- Confirm your collection date first. Start with the official calendar because many addresses changed days in 2026.
- Check whether it was a holiday week. Ottawa pushes affected routes by one day after listed holidays.
- For garbage or organics, contact 311. Call 311 or 613-580-2400.
- For recycling, contact Miller Waste if needed. Call 1-888-852-2374 or use the contact details Ottawa published for the 2026 recycling handoff.
- Make sure your set-out met city rules. Waste should be out after 6 p.m. the night before and no later than 7 a.m. on collection day.
Hazardous Waste and Special Items
Some materials should never go in regular garbage, bulky-item pickup, or recycling. Ottawa directs residents to its hazardous-waste and special-items system, including Waste Explorer and Take It Back! locations.
Waste Explorer
Search where to dispose of household items, electronics, textiles, furniture and more
Household Hazardous Waste
Official information on drop-off events and hazardous materials disposal
Special Items
Bulky items, textiles, electronics and other materials that need special handling
Your Waste Calendar
Personalized collection dates, reminders and holiday adjustments
Paint, chemicals, batteries, and similar problem items should be handled through Ottawa’s approved drop-off options rather than left at the curb.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ottawa Trash Pickup
How do I find my Ottawa garbage collection day?
Use the official Ottawa collection calendar, enter your address, and review the listed dates for garbage, recycling, green bin, and yard waste.
What time should I put my trash out in Ottawa?
Ottawa says curbside waste should be set out after 6:00 p.m. the night before collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
What is Ottawa’s three-item garbage limit?
Most Ottawa curbside households can set out up to three garbage items on collection day. Garbage above that limit must be placed in a City-branded yellow bag.
Did Ottawa change garbage days in 2026?
Yes. Starting March 30, 2026, the City began a new curbside collection contract and many households received a new collection day.
Can Ottawa collect bulky items like mattresses and furniture?
Yes. Ottawa says large bulky items such as sofas, mattresses and furniture are picked up at the curb, but they count as garbage items and should be out before 7 a.m. on collection day.
Who handles Ottawa recycling in 2026?
Beginning January 1, 2026, residential blue and black bin collection and processing moved to Circular Materials and its contractor. Ottawa published Miller Waste contact details for many recycling issues.
Do holidays affect Ottawa garbage pickup?
Yes. Ottawa says there is no curbside garbage, recycling or green bin collection on listed statutory holidays, and affected pickups are delayed by one day for the rest of the week.
Do Good Friday and Easter Monday affect Ottawa pickup?
Yes. Ottawa specifically stated there would be no curbside collection on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, or Easter Monday, April 6, 2026, with delayed pickup for the rest of those weeks.
What do I do with paint, batteries or chemicals in Ottawa?
Use Ottawa’s hazardous-waste and special-item disposal options, including Waste Explorer and approved drop-off programs. These materials should not go in regular curbside garbage.
How many garbage items could Ottawa households put out during the 2026 route transition?
To help residents during the change to new schedules starting March 30, 2026, Ottawa temporarily allowed up to six garbage items on the new scheduled collection day.
Official Ottawa Waste Collection Resources
Collection Calendar
Personalized garbage, recycling and green bin schedule
Curbside Garbage
Official garbage rules, set-out time, bulky items and limit details
Your Waste Calendar
Schedule lookup and holiday-delay information
Special Items
Bulky items and other waste that needs special handling
Hazardous Waste
Drop-off events and household hazardous waste guidance
Waste Explorer
Find the right disposal option for specific items
Need help now? Contact 311 for City waste-service help, or if you are outside Ottawa call 613-580-2400. For many 2026 recycling service issues, Ottawa directed residents to Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374.