Curbside Waste FAQs

Organics Cart: Weekly

Collected in City-Supplied 240 Litre Collection Cart, Green Lid

This is the cart previously used for garbage. Starting the week of August 21, 2023 it will become the organics cart. This City-supplied cart collects food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings and garden waste.

Recycling Bins: Bi-Weekly

Collected in Waterproof Bins or City-Supplied Bags

Recycling is separated into bins or bags by containers and paper products. You can use as many water-resistant bins for recycling as you need. Blue bags must be the ones provided by the City. Recycling is collected the alternate week to garbage.

Garbage Cart: Bi-Weekly

Collected in City-Supplied 120 Litre Collection Cart, Dark Grey Lid

Garbage is collected the alternate week to recycling. The garbage cart is smaller than the organics cart and there is a good reason for this. Most household garbage contains an average of 40% organic waste. Using the organics and recycling collection, you can reduce the waste going into your garbage cart.

The introduction of the new curbside collection program for organics will reduce garbage. Studies throughout the province, and real-life experience in many other BC communities, show us that as much as 40% of household garbage is actually compostable organic waste. By diverting that waste into the organics cart, and making good use of the recycling system, residents should be able to reduce the amount of waste going into the garbage cart, and ultimately to the landfill.

Council recognizes that for some City residents, this may be a challenge. As your household adapts to the new collection system, we encourage you to monitor your household’s solid waste levels for a while before considering it necessary to get an additional garbage cart. It is recommended to wait three months after organics collection begins before calling our team to discuss your options.

After three months, if you’re still regularly exceeding the 120 Litre garbage cart capacity and are unable to take any extra garbage to the landfill, a second 120 litre 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.

All properties with residences including single-family, two-family dwellings (duplexes), triplexes, fourplexes and individually serviced units that are approved by the City are included in the program. For further information please refer to Bylaw 1248 – Solid Waste and Recycling Regulations & Rates, available at castlegar.ca.

Yes, it will. The City is currently preparing a Solid Waste Regulations and Rates Bylaw for Council’s consideration at the August 14, 2023 Meeting. The 2023 and 2024 rates listed below are approximate and have been used for planning purposes. Staff anticipate minor adjustments will be reflected in the Bylaw due to increased garbage and recycling costs and implementing a new organics program mid-year. The new rates will become effective September 1 and reflected on October utility bills.It is important to note, the increase in rates from 2023 to 2024 is the result of three factors:

1. The increased costs for garbage and recycling collection under the City’s new service agreement with WM;
2. The introduction of the new curbside organics collection; and
3. The decision to keep the City’s yard waste disposal site operating.

Combined Rates:

Service	2023	2024	Change
Garbage	$123.32/annually	$138.11/annually	Increase of $14.79
Recycling	$0	$27.48/annually	Increase of $27.48
Organics	$0	$121.11/annually	Increase of $121.11
Yard Waste Compost	$37.78/annually	$33.18/annually	Decrease of $4.60
All Services	$161.10/annually	$319.88/annually	Increase of $158.78

The City received a $700,000 grant from the Province’s Clean BC Organic Infrastructure and Collection Program to support the purchase of new garbage carts and the community rollout.

No, the full collection service is mandatory for all eligible households.

A collection schedule will be included in the new Guide delivered with the new garbage carts at the end of July. It will also be available on the City’s website starting in early July at castlegar.ca/curbside.

The City’s curbside collection is only provided to residential properties. Business and commercial properties are responsible for arranging their own collection services through private waste and recycling contractors.

We don’t have limitless space in our landfills. Keeping organic waste out of the garbage frees up much-needed capacity and extends their working life. Rotting organic waste buried in the landfill creates methane. Methane is a Greenhouse Gas more potent that CO2, and traps heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Landfill GHG emissions accelerate climate change, and we are more aware than ever that a changing climate is a problem for everyone. Now is the time to take these steps.

The curbside organics waste collection program aligns with waste reduction goals outlined in the Regional District of Central Kootenay Waste Resource Recovery Plan, the City’s Official Community Plan, and our commitment to Renewable Energy to 2050. It will keep our community beautiful, save energy, conserve natural resources, and reduce pollution. The biggest benefits are:

It reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Organic waste buried in a landfill generates methane-a greenhouse gas-which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Composting organic waste with controlled exposure to air, moisture, and heat produces carbon dioxide, a much less harmful greenhouse gas. A curbside organic waste collection program is estimated to reduce the community’s carbon dioxide emissions.

It helps residents divert waste from the landfill

Recent waste audits show that only a small percentage of residential garbage is actually garbage. The rest is either compostable or recyclable (either in the blue bin or at recycling drop-off depots). That amounts to a lot of waste that can be kept out of our landfill. We don’t have limitless space in our landfills and keeping organics waste out of the trash frees up much-needed capacity, extends their working life, and saves money.

At the end of July, 2023 the City will deliver the following containers to participants:

• A new garbage collection cart (120 Litre) that you will take to the curb for collection.
• A kitchen catcher (7 Litre) that you keep in your kitchen for food waste. This has a lid that snaps shut to help contain odours and fruit flies and comes with a decal showing a quick guide of what goes in the bin that can be placed on the catcher or kept in a drawer for handy reference. Use newspaper or paper bags (like Bag to Earth) if you prefer to enclose food scraps.

Beginning August 21, 2023 the existing 240 Litre garbage collection cart with the green lid no longer be used for garbage – it will become the organics collection cart.

Collection carts will have serial numbers for tracking but we recommend you keep track of your containers by labelling them with your address! If you move, please leave your collection carts and blue boxes for the next residents.

No plastic liners – even compostable or biodegradable ones – will be accepted in the program. The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is planning to remove compostable and biodegradable plastic bags from the list of acceptable materials at all composting facilities as part of their upcoming revision to the provincial Organic Matter Recycling Regulation because plastics that are certified as biodegradable or compostable will only break down under very specific conditions, including a minimum period and when exposed to a certain minimum temperature. In general, the challenge is that not all composting facilities operate under these conditions. If they don’t, the plastics won’t break down properly and can end up contaminating the finished product, polluting the environment, and introducing microplastics and chemical additives into the soil as they break down.

You can line your kitchen bin with any paper-based liner, such as paper shopping bags, cereal/cracker boxes, parchment paper (not wax paper), or paper takeout boxes. Residents will each receive a supply of 2 Bag to Earth bags with the delivery of their cart and kitchen catcher and will be able to check with local retailers for Bag to Earth bags.

See Organic Waste for an overview of what will be included in organics collection.

Thank you for being an active composter – your actions already support one of the main goals of the organic waste collection program, which is to keep as much organic waste out of the landfill as possible.As a home composter, you are aware there are some materials that should not be composted in open backyard systems, such as meat, bones, oils, fats, dairy, and cooked foods, as these items attract vermin and other wild animals and can contaminate your soil with pathogens such as E.coli, listeria or salmonella.

Food-soiled paper like paper plates, paper towels, napkins, and dirty pizza boxes are more difficult to compost at home. Yard waste is also more difficult to compost at home, especially weeds that gardeners don’t want to put back into the soil or branchy/woody material that takes a lot longer to break down. However, all of these items are accepted in the City’s curbside organics collection.

Containers must be placed the same way they always have been – at the curb so they are visible and accessible for the collectors, and will not block roadways, driveways or sidewalks.

See Curbside Collection Guidelines for details.

The collection times for the new organics collection service remain the same as garbage and recycling and collection may take place any time between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on your collection day. The route times are flexible so the collection truck may arrive at your residence earlier or later than they have on previous collection days. To make sure your material is always collected, have your containers placed at the curb before 7:00 AM on your collection day. Do not put your containers at the curb any earlier than 4:00 AM on the morning of your collection day. If collection has not taken place at your house by 7 p.m. on your collection day, contact the City at 250-365-5979.

The City is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged carts. If you accidentally damage or lose your cart, contact the City at 250-365-5979 to discuss repairs or replacement. Fees may be charged.

Yes. This year-round service is mandatory. If you choose not to use it for any length of time, you will still be billed the full amount.

Organics Cart: Weekly

Collected in City-Supplied 240 Litre Collection Cart, Green Lid

This is the cart previously used for garbage. Starting the week of August 21, 2023 it will become the organics cart. This City-supplied cart collects food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings and garden waste.

Recycling Bins: Bi-Weekly

Collected in Waterproof Bins or City-Supplied Bags

Recycling is separated into bins or bags by containers and paper products. You can use as many water-resistant bins for recycling as you need. Blue bags must be the ones provided by the City. Recycling is collected the alternate week to garbage.

Garbage Cart: Bi-Weekly

Collected in City-Supplied 120 Litre Collection Cart, Dark Grey Lid

Garbage is collected the alternate week to recycling. The garbage cart is smaller than the organics cart and there is a good reason for this. Most household garbage contains an average of 40% organic waste. Using the organics and recycling collection, you can reduce the waste going into your garbage cart.

Yes, a growing number of residents in cities, towns, villages and electoral areas throughout the province are providing curbside organics collection. We’re playing catch-up – 80% of the population in BC already diverts organic waste from landfills.

Need reminders? We have an app for that! Sign up for collection day reminders and service alerts with our free app.

Search Recycle Coach using Google Play or the Apple App Store, or go to recyclecoach.com.

Yes, registered secondary suites will be required to participate in the City’s curbside collection program. Suites will receive the same new containers as everyone else.

If you miss your collection day, you will have to wait until your next collection day to put out materials.If you cannot wait, materials can be taken to the landfill operated by the Regional District of Central Kootenay:

Ootischenia Landfill
671 Columbia Road
Castlegar, BC

1-800-268-7325 or 250-352-8161

Find more info online at rdck.ca/ootischenialandfill.

Initially, the City had planned to close the yard waste composting facility to avoid duplicating services. Following feedback from the community, the City will continue to operate the yard waste composting facility at the north end of the Castlegar & District Community Complex at 2101 6th Avenue and will review this decision in one year.

Animals sometimes visit neighbourhoods because they are attracted by waste. Read the Bear Smart Tips.

There are a few things you can do to help prevent materials from getting stuck in your organics cart.

• Line your bin with paper yard waste bags, crumpled newspaper, or brown cardboard like pizza boxes.
• Make sure yard waste like leaves and grass clippings are dry before placing them in your bin.
• Do not pack materials into your organics cart and make sure to put it out every week for pick-up.
• Try to keep your organic materials loose in the bin before pick-up, especially in times when the weather is changing. Use a broom handle, stick or shovel to dislodge stuck or frozen materials.

Carts that are tagged with an “Oops” tag will be left behind because they contain contamination that will impact the quality of compost or result in a load of organics being rejected and sent to the landfill. Your organics bin will be picked up the following week if the contamination is removed.

Examples of organics contamination that may cause a cart to be rejected are:

• Garbage such as plastic garbage bags.
• Yard waste that is too large. Twigs, stems and flowers must be no larger than 2” in diameter and 12” in length. If you have yard waste that is too large for your organics cart, consider taking it to the Yard Waste Facility at the Castlegar Community Complex.
• Other materials that may contaminate the compost or cause risk to compost facility operators such as glass, metal, aerosol cans, and other hazardous materials.

Carts should be placed out between 4:00 am and 7:00 am. Carts placed out past this window may be left behind. Do not rely on the times that your carts are normally picked up. Routes and pick-up times may change without warning. If your bin is placed out too late, it will be left behind and will have to wait until the next scheduled pick up.

Houseflies are attracted to meat and will lay their eggs on cooked and raw meat, resulting in maggots which are housefly larvae. To help prevent maggots in your organics cart, consider placing your meat scraps and bones in the fridge or freezer until collection. You can also:

• Wrap your meat and bones in newspaper or paper towel before placing them in your kitchen catcher and organics cart.
• Layer your food scraps with dry yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, and dry plant matter.
• Sprinkle a little bit of baking soda, white vinegar, or garden lime in your organics cart. These are also great tips to help with the smell of your cart.
• Rinse your kitchen catcher with soap and water after you empty it.

If you already have maggots and are trying to get rid of them, after your organics cart is emptied for the week, pour boiling water into the cart and around the edge of the lid to kill any maggots present.

Flies can get into small openings in your organics cart and kitchen catcher. Make sure to tightly close the lids of your cart and kitchen catcher when they are not in use.

In the Summer months, store your organics cart in a shaded, well-ventilated area.

The liquid in the organics cart is often the part that stinks the most and can be an inconvenience but there are ways to reduce the amount of liquid left behind in your organics cart. To help, you can:

• Line your bin with paper yard waste bags, crumpled newspaper, or brown cardboard like pizza boxes.
• Layer your food scraps with dry yard waste like leaves, grass clippings, and dry plant matter. This dry yard waste will help absorb the excess moisture of your kitchen scraps.
• Drain your scraps before placing them into your bin.
• Wrap your kitchen scraps in newspaper or paper towel or place them in paper bags or paper bags lined with cellulose like Bag to Earth. Just be sure not to place your organics in biodegradable or compostable plastic bags as these are not acceptable in our curbside program.

The larger cart with the green lid is now your organics cart. The smaller cart with the grey lid is now your garbage cart.

You don’t need to line your organics bin at all if you do not want to. Food scraps and yard waste can be placed loose in the bin. If you are looking for a way to line your bin but Bag to Earth is not the best option for you, there are many other cheaper options. You can wrap your food scraps in newspaper, old flyers or paper towels. Regular paper bags and large paper yard waste bags can be used to line your cart. Pizza boxes and other brown cardboard can also be used to line the bottom of your cart.

Cardboard and paper that can go in your organics cart have to be unlined. If the paper or cardboard is waxy, shiny or glossy, it can’t go into the organics cart. This means containers like paper ice cream containers, to-go cups, and take-out containers with a shiny inside can’t go into the organics cart. Instead, give these types of containers a rinse out and place them in the recycling.

After the organic is collected from residents it’s taken to an organics bin at the Ootischenia landfill. When this bin is full it is taken to the central composting facility in Salmo. From there Castlegar’s organic waste is added to the organic waste from other municipalities. The mixed food and yard waste is then placed over aeration piping in long piles called windrows. This method promotes active decomposition, limits odours, prevents methane generation and produces a safe, high-quality product. The Regional District of Central Kootenay plans to make the Class-A compost produced at this facility available to partners as well as sell it to the public.