Castlegar Introducing a New Waste Management System
The City of Castlegar is introducing a new waste management system that will reduce garbage sent to the landfill by separating your household waste into three streams: organics, recycling and garbage.
Starting August 21, your green-lidded large garbage cart will become the organics cart. You’ll be able to toss food scraps and yard trimmings into the organics cart for weekly curbside pick up. A new, smaller garbage cart with a grey lid, along with a program guide and everything you need to know, will be delivered at the end of July.
“We’re excited to bring residents this new service which aligns with waste reduction goals outlined in the Regional District of Central Kootenay Resource Recovery Plan, the City’s Official Community Plan, and our commitment to Renewable Energy by 2050,” says Director of Municipal Services, Chris Hallam. “We don’t have limitless space in our landfills – keeping organic waste out of the garbage frees up much-needed capacity and reduces Greenhouse Gas emissions.”
The introduction of weekly curbside organics collection means less garbage and less smell. The new waste management system will see organics collected weekly while recycling and garbage will continue to be collected every other week. More organics + more recycling = less garbage! On average, organic waste makes up 40% of household garbage.
All residential properties, including single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and City approved multi-family sites serviced by shared commercial bins are included in the program. If you have a set of garbage and recycling carts that are collected by the City, your household is included.
Excess Yard Waste Drop-Off
Doing a yard clean up and have too much material for your organics cart? Residents can drop off excess yard waste at the City’s Yard Waste Composting Site, located at 2101 6th Avenue, Castlegar (Castlegar & District Community Complex).
Change Can Be Challenging
As your household adapts to the new collection system, we encourage you to monitor your solid waste levels for at least three months before considering it necessary to get an additional garbage cart. If you’re still regularly exceeding the garbage cart capacity and are unable to take any extra to the landfill, a second garbage cart can be purchased. This comes with additional fees for the extra cart, a one-time administration fee, and an additional annual collection fee.
Learn More
Find frequently asked questions, the new collection schedule and information on what can and can’t go into carts at castlegar.ca/curbside.
Residents can also contact our Solid Waste & Organics Ambassador at 250-365-5979 or curbside@castlegar.ca.
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