Mazhar Choudhry
"Via Education and incentives."
Bob Bell
"I would like to see the city pursue waste to energy solutions that would use waste to generate renewable energy and reduce the amount going to landfills. I will admit I'm not an expert in this area and would lean on local expertise to identify and develop these solutions."
Yvette Ashiri
"I would support Initiatives like the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) and federal green procurement strategies actively build local demand for circular good."
Tammie Trellert
"I want Ottawa to move from a "take, make, throw away" mindset to one where we reduce what we consume, reuse what we can, repair what we have and recover valuable materials wherever possible.
Ottawa's current Solid Waste Master Plan gives us a strong starting point, but implementation and accountability are key. The City's landfill is expected to reach capacity around 2034–35 if current disposal habits continue, so we need to keep pushing waste diversion rather than simply planning for more landfill capacity.
I would focus on making diversion easier and more convenient, particularly for food waste and organics, which make up a significant portion of what goes to landfill. That means continuing to expand Green Bin access in apartments and condos, improving education and collection infrastructure, and making sure residents have practical options for bulky items, textiles and household materials.
But a circular economy goes beyond recycling. I want Ottawa to support repair cafés, reuse and swap events, food rescue, tool and equipment sharing, refill and rental programs, and local businesses that repair, refurbish and reuse materials. The City is already developing a Reuse Directory to connect residents with these kinds of services, and I would like to see that work grow.
There is also a role for the City as a purchaser. We should look at how municipal procurement can prioritize durable, repairable and reusable products, and how construction and demolition materials can be recovered rather than unnecessarily sent to landfill.
And I don't think the answer is simply asking residents to do more. We need to make the sustainable choice the easy choice, while keeping waste services accessible and affordable.
Finally, I would want clear public reporting: how much waste are we actually diverting, where are the gaps, how much landfill capacity are we saving, and are our investments delivering results?
A greener Ottawa should see waste as a resource. Reduce it. Reuse it. Repair it. Recover it. And landfill only what truly has nowhere else to go."