What bin do I need for soil from a backyard dig in Riverside South?

Ottawa bin companies' guidance for soil is about weight, not volume: heavy material such as soil, concrete and brick usually needs a small or dedicated bin, or a partly filled one, billed by weight. Some companies keep a separate bin for clean fill.

So the size question comes after the weight question. Weight limits differ by company, and we do not print one per size, so ask each company:

• Which bin does it use for soil, and how much may that bin hold by weight?
• Is the bin billed by weight from the first tonne, or does the price include some tonnes?
• What is the rate for each tonne beyond what is included?
• May the soil share the bin with other debris, or does it need its own bin?

The answers decide the price more than the bin's label does. Published prices from Ottawa bin companies, seen October 2026, come in two models, bin fee plus weight or all-in with tonnes included, and the per-tonne line is the one a soil load leans on.

For context only, the City's Trail Road landfill lists a 2026 rate of $81.90 per tonne for soil (top soil, sand, sod). That is a City landfill rate, not a bin price.

Where the bin sits matters in Riverside South as anywhere in the city: on the road, boulevard, sidewalk or a public laneway it needs the City's Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit.

Before booking, ask the company for the weight the quoted bin may hold for a soil-only load, in writing.