Residents and city councillors in Ottawa have expressed concerns about the initial challenges faced during the launch of the new recycling system. Issues such as conflicting pickup information, unemptied bins, and difficulties reaching customer support have been reported to CBC following the takeover of recycling collection by Miller Waste Systems on January 1.
The company, under contract to Circular Materials, which manages the province’s recycling system, was founded by a group of leading Canadian food, beverage, and consumer products manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers. This initiative has shifted the responsibility of recycling collection costs to these companies, reducing the tax burden on Ottawa residents, who now only have to cover garbage and organics pickup expenses.
Despite some initial confusion due to discrepancies between pickup dates provided by Circular Materials and the City of Ottawa’s schedule, the transition has been relatively smooth. Some residents, like Gary Rusyn in Kanata, experienced issues with their recyclables not being collected promptly. However, after reaching out to Miller Waste multiple times, the company addressed the problem and completed the pickup.
Circular Materials CEO, Allen Langdon, attributed some of the issues to technical problems with the app and assured that updates would soon resolve these issues. He also clarified that residents can request replacement bins free of charge, contrary to initial miscommunication.
While there have been adjustments to the new system, efforts are being made to ensure a seamless transition for residents. The city continues to provide support through its collections calendar app and collaborative efforts between Circular Materials and Ottawa authorities. City councillor Matt Luloff acknowledged the challenges posed by the transition to a third-party operator but remains committed to addressing residents’ concerns effectively.