Garbage, Organics & Recycling

Garbage

 

Kootenay Region
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Boundary Region
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Kootenay Curbside Collection: Household Garbage

To facilitate the green bin program, agreements have been reached with municipalities of Trail, Rossland, Warfield and Fruitvale to allow for the transition of garbage collection services to the Regional District.

Garbage collection will be a user-pay, bag-tag system that will allow for the dual collection of garbage and food waste at the same time using split packer trucks. These trucks have separate collection compartments for each waste type, so that one does not contaminate the other. Currently, up to 38% of landfill waste is compostable organics.

Weekly curbside garbage collection is provided to single family homes and multi-family units (4 or less) in the Kootenay region. Apartments and businesses have garbage collected through private waste haulers.

Please place garbage bags in a sturdy garbage can with a secure lid. Maximum weight of garbage is 23kgs/50lbs.

Set out your bins by 7:30 a.m. on your collection day and bring them in after collection as soon as possible. Do not put them out the night before – be bear aware!

Kootenay residents (Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Fruitvale, Areas A and B):
If your garbage, green bin or recycling was not picked up and you did not receive an ‘Oops!’ sticker, call GFL Environmental at 250-367-0099.

If your garbage is not sorted or managed properly, it may get left at the curb with an ‘Oops!’ sticker attached. Below are the reasons bags and materials get rejected:

  • Garbage bag/container was heavier than 23kg/50lbs
  • Strewn by animals/bag broke open – please use a garbage can
  • Too bulky to handle – check the Recyclepedia for a disposal/recycling location
  • Item too big – break it down
  • Bag untagged – purchase bag tag and place on bag
  • Contained recyclable items – sort your recyclables
  • Loose broken glass – seal in a box or wrap in several sheets of newspaper
  • Sharps – use a specifically designed container, available from the pharmacy and return to the pharmacy

Loose powdery materials such as flour, sawdust or contents of vacuum canisters – contain in a heavy paper bag

Residents in the Kootenay Region (except residents of Montrose) must purchase a $3 RDKB garbage tag for every bag that is put out.Tags can be purchased at the following locations:

Garbage tags can be purchased at municipal buildings as well as many local businesses, such as:

Trail/Waneta:
Trail City Hall
Ferraro Foods
No Frills
Safeway
Canadian Tire
McKelvey Creek Landfill
RDKB Office (843 Rossland Ave.)

Fruitvale:
Village of Fruitvale
Liberty Foods

Warfield:
Village Hall
Petro Canada

Rossland:
Alpine Drug Mart
Rossland City Hall
Ferraro Foods

Genelle:
Genelle Tempo

Rossland:
Starting in September, Rossland businesses that currently sell GFL garbage stickers will limit sales and minimize the number of extra stickers circulating in the community.  Sheets of 10 will be reduced to 5.  The Sale of all GFL stickers will be stopped as of October 2, 2023.

Purchased GFL stickers will be able to be utilized from October 2 to December 31, 2023 as follows:

  • One large GFL sticker will be equivalent to 1 RDKB tag.
  • Two small GFL stickers will be equivalent to 1 RDKB tag.
  • A partially filled bag will require the use of two small or 1 large GFL sticker.  The use of one small bag sticker will not be accepted.

New RDKB garbage tags will be available from participating businesses in early September. These will be the only garbage tags allowed for the service after January 1, 2024.  Please do not use RDKB garbage tags prior to October 2, 2023.

Warfield:
Warfield property owners who paid for residential garbage collection for 2023 will receive 9 garbage tags for their use. These tags offset the fees paid for weekly garbage service from October to December 2023. Residents can expect the tags, accompanied by a letter, in the coming days.

Trail:
The City of Trail will provide a credit on 2024 utilities bills for residents who paid the 2023 annual garbage rate. The credit will equate to 84% of the garbage service fee from October to December 2023 as 18% of garbage service fees is collected for the City’s spring and fall yard waste pick up service - the City will continue with the yard waste pick up program.

Montrose:
The community of Montrose will keep its current curbside garbage pick-up service.  It will still be picked up every Wednesday, and at the same price - $3.50/Village bag.   The weekly collection of green bins (food waste) will be provided by the RDKB, on the same day as garbage collection. 

Fruitvale:

  • 13 FREE RDKB garbage tags will be allocated to each household in lieu of being charged for the service in utilities.  These will be available at the Village office in September for use October 1st onwards.
  • Although the village of Fruitvale does bi-weekly garbage, RDKB will be collecting garbage weekly from October 2nd onwards.
  • Village of Fruitvale garbage bags will not be mandatory for use from October onwards, but RDKB garbage tags will be mandatory.
  • Village garbage bags will not be reimbursed as 13 RDKB garbage tags are being given free of charge.
  • Once the 13 tags are used, Village residents can purchase RDKB tags for $3.00 as needed, from the Village office.

Area A and Area B (Excluding Genelle):
For many residents in these areas you have either never had garbage pick up or you have a direct contract with a local hauling company (such as GFL or Waste Management).  Starting October 2, 2023, the RDKB will be providing weekly curbside collection of green bin and garbage to the vast majority of residents.  A collection calendar will be delivered to residents within the first two weeks of September by GFL staff.  Keep an eye out for it!

Area B (Genelle Only):
Waste Management will continue to operate garbage pick-up every Monday until its contract expires on March 31, 2024.  The RDKB will be collecting green bin waste on the same day as garbage, so residents can place both materials at the curb on the same day. Starting April 1, 2024 the garbage collection service will transition to the RDKB and residents will be required to then purchase RDKB garbage tags.

I have a couple of small garbage bags; do I need to place a sticker on each bag?
No! If you have multiple bags in one garbage can and it weighs less than 23kg/50lbs you only need one garbage tag. Make sure it is visible in the can so that the driver picks it up.

Can we expect disruptions to our garbage collection services during the transition period?
There should be no interruption of services during the transition. If your garbage or green bin was not picked up and you do not have an ‘Oops’ sticker, please call GFL at 250-367-0099.

How do I put my garbage sticker on my bag?
At the top of the garbage bag, near the knot on top, loop the sticker around the bag and connect the ends – same as a luggage sticker.

Are there any penalties or consequences for not using the new green bin program?
While we encourage everybody to use their new green bins, the program is not mandatory and there are no penalties for not using the system.

Does my garbage bag need to be in a can?
Please! Having your garbage in a sturdy can with a secure lid greatly reduces the chance of the bag breaking and garbage being eaten or strewn by animals. If this happens your garbage will not be collected by the driver.

Who do I contact if my garbage collection was missed?
Kootenay residents (Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Fruitvale, Area A & B): if your garbage or green bin was not picked up and you did not receive an ‘Oops’ sticker, call GFL Environmental at 250-367-0099.

When is my collection day?
Collection calendars are ready! They will be given out with garbage collection in the next few weeks.

I missed garbage collection, but my bag already has a sticker on it. Can I take it to the landfill?
The tipping fee for a single bag of household garbage at an RDKB landfill or transfer station is $4 – bag tags are not accepted as payment.

Where can I purchase garbage tags?
Garbage tags can be purchased at municipal buildings as well as many local businesses, such as:

Trail/Waneta:
McKelvey Creek Landfill
RDKB Office (843 Rossland Ave.)
Trail City Hall
Ferraro Foods
Safeway
No Frills
Canadian Tire

Fruitvale:
Village of Fruitvale
Liberty Foods
Fruitvale IDA Pharmacy

Warfield:
Village Hall
Petro Canada

Rossland:
Rossland City Hall
Ferraro Foods
Alpine Drug Mart

Genelle:
Genelle General Store-Tempo

** Genelle residents do not require a garbage tag for pick up until April 2024**

Tipping Fees at the Landfill or Transfer Station
The tipping fee for a single bag of household garbage at an RDKB landfill or transfer station is $4 – bag tags are not accepted as payment.

Link to rate sheet