The question of whether passersby should be allowed to take bottles out of the trash by the curb was at the centre of a debate sparked in an Ottawa neighbourhood recently when a resident filed a complaint over recycling bin scavenging.
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In many municipalities, including Ottawa, scavenging any waste that has been placed out for collection is illegal.
Recyclable materials bring in revenue for the city of Ottawa, and stealing from a blue bin carries a fine of up to $10,000. However, the city only responds if a complaint is filed.