It’s another sign that spring is on the way— yard waste curbside collection is back.
After its regular winter hiatus, starting March 1, all residents in the Central Okanagan who receive regular municipal curbside garbage collection will have their yard waste picked up second until the end of November.
Fill containers (with the green lid) with yard waste and wheel them out for pickup every other week (alternate weeks to your recycling pick up).To determine your yard waste collection week, refer to the Living Greener Calendar at regionaldistrict.com/recycle or download the new mobile phone waste app at regionaldistrict.com/mywasteapp.
Waste reduction facilitator Rae Stewart said residents here make great use of the yard waste collection service.
“Last year alone, we collected approximately 12,000 tonnes of yard waste at the curb and turned it into high quality compost instead of it being buried at the landfill,” she said.
“Collecting yard waste separately not only gives us the chance to compost all this yard waste, it also saves valuable landfill space, reduces unnecessary traffic congestion at the landfill, and offers residents a great soil conditioner in the form of GlenGrow they can buy for their own gardens come springtime.”
Yard waste containers should be put out for collection by 7 a.m .on the morning of your regular garbage day and only include the following:
• Leaves
• Wood chips, bark
• Pine needles
• Garden plants
• Grass clippings
• Branches and pruning’s up to five centimetres in diameter and less than one metre in length
Garbage, plastic bags, rocks, sod, flower pots, landscape cloth, fruit droppings or kitchen scraps are not to go in yard waste containers.
Cameras have been installed to monitor what is in waste containers and breaking the rules could result in a $150 fine.
Up to two additional 360-litre yard waste containers can be purchased from the municipality that you live in.
For additional yard waste carts and collection options, contact your municipality or visit regionaldistrict.com/recycle.
