Follow-up Statement To Recent Recycling Container Issues
- Clarke Kelly
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In the follow up to the ongoing issues and confusion around recycling pick up, I went on CFRA yesterday with Kristy Cameron to discuss the issue and the challenges it has posed to Ward 5 residents.
Here's the link to the interview, which begins at the 19:13 mark:
In the interview, I highlighted the lack of information and communication provided by Circular Materials, the company now responsible for recycling in the province of Ontario.
About an hour after my interview was complete, Circular Materials reached out, not to my office, but to CFRA with the following statement:
“Circular Materials works with our service provider, Miller Waste, to deliver recycling collection service to Ottawa residents. Miller Waste has been the recycling collection contractor in Ottawa since Circular Materials began managing the recycling program in Ottawa in July 2023, and was also the existing recycling collection contractor in Ottawa prior to the transition.
"Miller Waste uses a manual collection system for recycling in Ottawa, which means that collection workers lift and empty recycling containers into the truck. To ensure recycling can be safely lifted and emptied by workers, recycling should be set out in standard blue or black boxes and weigh less than 23 kgs (50 lbs).
"When a container cannot be safely lifted and emptied by workers, workers will do their best to continue collecting the container, and also leave a notice informing the resident that their recycling container is not suitable for collection, so that the resident can bring their recycling container into alignment with the manual collection system. Workers will continue to collect the non-standard container as they are able until the resident is able to bring their container into alignment.
"Miller Waste will support residents in bringing their containers into alignment with the collection system. If residents do not have standard blue box containers, they can contact Miller Waste at area2@millerwaste.ca or 1-888-852-2374 to request standard containers.
"Residents can find up-to-date information about recycling in their community at circularmaterials.ca/ottawa.”
While I appreciate the information from Circular Materials about contacting Miller Waste to obtain acceptable recycling containers, I am still disappointed that they continue to point to their website for information where it still does not tell residents about the size restriction on bins. Much of this could have been avoided with good, proactive, and clear communication by Circular Materials. Hopefully, this is a lesson learned for everyone involved.
Since yesterday, Circular Materials has sent additional communications, indicating that recycling will continue to be picked up in 240-litre containers for the time being.
See their comments below:
“For residents that do not currently have standard blue or black boxes, Miller Waste will support residents in bringing their containers into alignment with the collection system. To support resident education and awareness, Miller Waste will leave a notice informing the resident that their recycling container is not suitable for collection, and deliver a standard container to the resident within approximately two weeks. During this time, residents’ recycling will continue to be collected in any non-standard containers until the resident’s container is able to be brought into alignment.
"Residents can also contact Miller Waste directly at area2@millerwaste.ca or 1-888-852-2374 with any questions or concerns.”
Again, this information was not sent to my office, or posted publicly on their website, but was sent to CFRA, which is where we obtained the info. Thank you to Kristy Cameron and her team at CFRA for their help.
I trust this information will be helpful, but please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at Clarke.Kelly@Ottawa.ca or 613-580-2475 if you have additional questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Clarke Kelly