Made-in-Ottawa solution for the 140L garbage bin

Find out how Shelina Cocker is filling a crucial gap in the city's waste management system with durable, Ottawa-made bins.

There is a made-in-Ottawa solution for Ottawa residents looking for a garbage bin that complies with the city’s 140-litre bin limit.

Ottawa BinWorks is selling the 140-litre bin, a rectangular garbage bin with wheels and a removable lid for easy access.

“It was very difficult to find this size bin when the city launched the regulations last year,” Shelina Cocker of Ottawa BinWorks told CTV Morning Live.

“We did a lot of research; we were trying to find out how we can get this bin here.”

When the City of Ottawa introduced the three-item limit for garbage collection in September 2024, it said the maximum size for a garbage bin was 140-litres. However, there were no 140-litre bins available for sale in Ottawa.

“My natural problem-solving skills kicked in and I started researching the requirements, worked very closely with the City of Ottawa trying to figure out what exactly the bin specifications were,” Cocker said.

“We were able to design a bin that met 100 per cent of the requirements set out by the city.”

The 140-litre bin meets all of the city’s requirements, including the removable lid. Cocker says it’s the only 140-litre garbage bin for sale in Canada.

The bin comes in the colour pink, which Cocker said has a couple of meanings.

“The customers love it; it’s a different colour – it’s fun. It’s fun from the regular black bins that you see; it brings more curb appeal,” Cocker said.

“We’re also partnering with Breast Cancer Action Ottawa. We wanted to donate proceeds to something that was local, something that was local to the community. So, we thought that would be a good partner for the pink bin.”

You can purchase the 140-litre bin at www.ottawabinworks.com and at select Home Hardware stores in Ottawa.

• Ottawa BinWorks on Facebook

The City of Ottawa introduced the new three-item garbage limit as part of the plan to extend the Trail Road Landfill.