Ottawa auditor finds garbage collectors skipped limit rules in most observed cases
Ottawa's auditor general found contractors took correct action on the three-item limit in only 2 of 21 test collections, and the city fined the contractor just $282 over 17 months.
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Ottawa's auditor general found the city's garbage contractor took correct action on the three-item limit in only 2 of 21 observed test collections. The city levied financial penalties against the contractor just once in more than 17 months of service, for $282.
The Audit of Curbside Garbage Collection, issued by Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon in September 2026, is scheduled to be tabled at City Council on November 3. It covered the period from January 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026.
What the auditor found
The three-item limit took effect on September 30, 2024. Under the rule, collectors are supposed to tag any address that puts out more than three items and leave the extra bags behind. The auditor tested how well this was working and found the contractor did not take appropriate action in 19 of 21 observed cases.
Over the 17-month audit period, 1,962 addresses were tagged for exceeding the three-item limit. A broader total of 9,483 addresses were tagged more than five times for any violation during the same period.
Despite these numbers, the city issued liquidated damages (the financial penalties written into the contract) only once, for $282, between January 1, 2025 and the close of the audit. The auditor found the city had no clear framework for deciding when those penalties should apply.
The cost of the service
About 315,000 Ottawa addresses receive bi-weekly curbside garbage collection. The city spent $72.9 million on the service in 2025, below the budget of $80.6 million. The 2026 budget is $80.1 million.
The amount of garbage collected has been declining. Landfill tonnage from curbside collection dropped from 126,640 tonnes in 2023, to 120,779 tonnes in 2024, to 102,551 tonnes in 2025.
Six recommendations
The auditor issued 6 recommendations, all rated Moderate priority. Management agreed to all of them. The deadlines run from Q1 2027 to Q4 2027:
- Clearer written guidance for collectors on how to apply the three-item limit (Q2 2027)
- Training for contractor staff (Q3 2027)
- Stronger monitoring of contractor performance against contract requirements (Q4 2027)
- Technology improvements, such as vehicle cameras, to document collection decisions (Q1 2027)
- A formal framework setting out when the city should apply financial penalties (Q4 2027)
- Improved budget planning to identify and track the factors that drive costs (Q4 2027)
What residents can do
The full audit report is available through the Office of the Auditor General's website. City Council meets November 3 to receive the report. Residents who want to follow the discussion can find the agenda at the City of Ottawa's meetings site at https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/.
Questions this story answers
What did Ottawa's auditor general find about curbside garbage collection?
The Auditor General's September 2026 report found that Ottawa's contractor did not consistently enforce the three-item limit, failed to apply financial penalties when required, and that the city's own monitoring was weak. In 21 observed test collections, the auditor found contractors took appropriate action only 2 times. The audit covered January 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026.
What is Ottawa's three-item garbage limit?
Ottawa introduced a limit of three items per collection address, effective September 30, 2024. The rule requires collectors to tag any address that puts out more than three items and leave the excess behind. The auditor found this rule was not being consistently followed by the contractor.
How many addresses were tagged for exceeding the three-item limit?
According to the audit report, 1,962 addresses were tagged for exceeding the three-item limit during the 17-month period from January 2025 to May 2026. An additional 9,483 addresses were tagged more than five times in total during that same period for any violation.
How much did Ottawa fine its garbage contractor?
The city levied liquidated damages (financial penalties against the contractor) just once between January 1, 2025 and the end of the audit period. That single penalty was $282, according to the report. The auditor found the city lacked a clear framework for deciding when to apply these penalties.
How much does Ottawa spend on curbside garbage collection?
The city's actual total expenditures for curbside garbage collection in 2025 were $72.9 million, below the budget of $80.6 million. The 2026 budget for the service is $80.1 million, according to the audit report. About 315,000 addresses in Ottawa receive bi-weekly collection.
Has Ottawa been collecting less garbage over the years?
Yes. Landfill tonnage from curbside garbage collection dropped from 126,640 tonnes in 2023 to 120,779 tonnes in 2024 and to 102,551 tonnes in 2025, a total drop of 24,089 tonnes over the two-year period, according to figures in the audit report. The report records the numbers but does not explain the reason for the decline. The three-item limit, which the auditor found was poorly enforced, took effect on September 30, 2024.
What does the auditor recommend?
The auditor issued 6 recommendations, all rated Moderate priority. They cover: clearer guidance for collectors on the three-item limit (deadline Q2 2027), training for contractor staff (Q3 2027), better monitoring of contractor performance (Q4 2027), technology improvements such as vehicle cameras (Q1 2027), a formal framework for applying financial penalties (Q4 2027), and improved budget planning to track what drives costs (Q4 2027). Management agreed to all six recommendations.
When does Ottawa council receive this audit?
The auditor general's report is scheduled to be tabled at Ottawa City Council on November 3, 2026. Residents can follow council meetings at the City of Ottawa's meetings site at https://pub-ottawa.escribemeetings.com/ and read the full audit at the Office of the Auditor General's reports page at https://www.oagottawa.ca/reports/audit-reports/.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Ottawa Auditor General: Audit of Curbside Garbage Collection, September 2026media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com
- Ottawa Office of the Auditor General: Audit Reportsoagottawa.ca
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