Advice for landlords and student tenants on the rules for move-out and move-in garbage

Q: I recently bought a rental property in Old Ottawa South. It is rented to Carleton students, who are due to move out at the end of April. Several years ago, I owned a property in Sandy Hill, and I remember problems with garbage when my tenants moved out. Do you have any advice to help me avoid problems with this move?

A: Over the last few years, the city has been diligent about picking up residual garbage left out too early or too late and charging the costs back to property owners. Property owners have become better at making sure their tenants know the solid waste rules to avoid those chargebacks. And tenants have become better at following the rules. You can help yourself by making sure your tenants know what they need to do.

The basic rules for all residents are these:

• Waste or recycling is to be placed out for collection by 7 a.m. on the collection day or after 6 p.m. the evening before.

• Check the online collection calendar at ottawa.ca/collectioncalendar for the collection days for each address.

• If you are a tenant who is moving out of, or into, a low-rise property with curbside collection, remember that residual garbage is collected only every second week (even though recycling is collected weekly).

• If you miss the last residual garbage day before your moveout day, talk to your landlord to know where to place large furniture or other move-out waste for disposal.

• If you cannot connect with your landlord, make sure you place all your garbage behind the property, and let your landlord know you have done so.

• If you are moving in, wait until the next collection date for residual garbage to put out any move-in garbage.

Residents must not put out their residual garbage (or recycling) early, or the city may charge hundreds of dollars for the cleanup and/or a fine. Tenants must not put out their residual garbage (or recycling) early or the city may charge their landlord hundreds of dollars for the cleanup, and/or a fine. The landlord can claim that money from their tenants.

Keep items in good condition out of the city’s landfill by giving them away or swapping them for something more usable. Visit

ottawa.ca/wastereduction for a list of organizations that accept donations, or search the city’s Waste Explorer web page to find retailers near you who accept the items.

Below are the relevant upcoming residual garbage collection days for curbside collection on many streets in neighbourhoods serving several post-secondary institutions. To be sure, check your specific address.