The city of Ottawa is installing containers in the worst-hit areas for residents to dispose of spoiled food and will also carry out a bombing to collect organic waste in people’s homes.
In Ottawa, hundreds of thousands of people have been without electricity for more than two full days, and spoiled food is becoming a health and safety hazard.
With so much deterioration, the city is installing containers to collect food waste in the most affected areas of the city. There were originally four, but the city has added two more.
The containers are already in place on Tuesday in six locations:
- Navan Memorial Center, at 1295 Colonial Rd.
- CARDELREC Goulbourn Recreation Complex, 1500 Shea Rd
- Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Center, at 3320 Paul Anka Dr.
- Howard Darwin Centennial Arena, 1765 Merivale Rd.
- Minto Recreation Complex, 3500 Cambrian Rd.
- Walter Baker Sports Center, 100 Malvern Drive
“In the neighborhoods hardest hit by the storm, the city will hold a blitz to collect green bins over the next few days to ensure the collection of organic waste as soon as possible,” said Alain Gonthier, head of public works at the city.
Gonthier urges residents to dispose of as much organic waste as possible in green bins. Regular garbage collection and recycling will continue as planned this week, delayed by a day due to Victory Day celebration.
The city also says it is exemplifying the dump rate at the Trail Road landfill for residents with storm-related damage. Officials estimate it could be two to four days before electricity is fully restored, as Ottawa neighborhoods were affected.
Mayor Jim Watson said Monday that the city is offering some support to residents whose food has gone bad due to the power outage.
“If the storm hit you and you need help, you can ask for financial help from the city of Ottawa,” Watson told a news conference Monday. “This includes money for food substitution and, in exceptional circumstances, help with medication, medical supplies or personal care.”
Not all residents will be eligible for assistance. The aid is provided through Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program, and is intended for those who do not have enough money for food and housing, have a disability, or have financial needs.
Watson says residents can fill out an online application form or call 3-1-1 and dial 4.
BLITZ BIN VERD
The city will hold a blitz of green bins in four neighborhoods over the next few days to collect organic waste from the hardest hit areas. Priority is being given to most of Stittsville, all the communities in Ward 9 (Knoxdale-Merivale) that have lost electricity, Riverside Park and the Mooney’s Bay area of Ward 16 (River) and the villages of Navan, Cumberland and Sarsfield at Ward 19. (Cumberland).
The City Council says that if the green container is not picked up at the end of the day, take it out at night and take it out again the next morning.
Important information here: #Stittsville residents will have an extra collection of green bins on TUESDAY this week for spoiled food. You can pack your food waste as usual and put it in the green bin to pick it up. See details in the graph.
We also have a rubbish bin in CARDELREC. pic.twitter.com/9v3uemzcNz
– Glen Gower (@glengower) May 23, 2022
WHAT TO DO WITH MEDIUM FOOD
Ottawa Public Health says when it comes to food safety, “If in doubt, throw it away!”
The health unit says the food in the fridge usually lasts between four and six hours, as long as the door is kept closed. You can extend the life of perishable items in refrigerators by using ice packs, but if more than eight hours have passed and you have not been able to keep the refrigerator below 4 C, all hazardous foods, such as meat, seafood, dairy, etc. Processed or sliced products, fruits and vegetables (salads) and things like cooked rice and pasta should be thrown away.
Food in the freezer will go a little better, but time is also running out for frozen products.
OPH says bacteria will not grow on frozen foods. If kept closed, a full vertical or chest freezer will keep food frozen for up to 48 hours during a power outage, and a half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours.
“If you know a light failure will last a long time, transport the food to a friend’s or family member’s freezer if possible,” the health unit recommends.
You should discard any thawed hazardous food that has been kept at room temperature for two hours or more, as well as any food that has a strange color or odor. If something has fallen on the food, such as juices from other items, throw it away as well.
Foods that still contain ice crystals or that feel cold in the refrigerator can be re-frozen. Quality may change, but food is still safe, says OPH.
Dry products should remain above ground to avoid pests.