Garbage, Organics & Recycling

 

 

Don’t Waste Your Waste!
The following resources will help you learn how to use your Green Bin.

Kootenay Region
Click Here to See Below
Boundary Region
Click Here to See Below
Be Bear Aware
Click Here to See Below
Backyard Composting
Click Here to See Below
Prevent Food Waste
Click Here to See Below

 

Kootenay Curbside Collection: Green Bin

How does the curbside collection program work?

Starting October 2023 homes in Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale, and Areas A & B will receive weekly curbside collection of organic kitchen scraps.

Fill the kitchen bucket with the proper materials and dump it into your green bin when full. Each week, the green bin will be collected.

Download the Kootenay Region Green Bin User Guide for a printable version of the information below, with tips on what can and can't go in your green bin, how to reduce the "yuck" factor, and much more!

Fill the kitchen tote with the proper materials and dump it into your green bin when full. Each week, the green bin will be collected. 

The standard 80 litre green bin distributed to residents free of charge by the RDKB are critter-resistant (to racoons, rodents, etc.) but not bear-resistant. With this is mind, it’s important that you store and manage your bin properly to not attract bears.

Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee ‘certified bear-resistant’ green bins are available for purchase through our bear bin trade-in program, for RDKB residents who live in bear-frequented areas and are unable to keep their bins secured:

  • Step 1 Fill out the Bear Bin Trade-In form here or call us and we will fill it out for you!
  • Step 2 – You will be contacted by RDKB staff to confirm bin availability and arrange for payment and a pickup time at the McKelvey Creek Landfill.
  • Step 3 – Bring your CLEAN 80 litre standard critter-resistant bin to the McKelvey Creek Landfill for trade-in at the pre-arranged date and time.
  • Step 4 – Pay and pick up your new bin. Trade-in cost is $200 including GST.

Note: Once you purchase a Bear Bin, you keep it! If you move to another residence, let the RDKB know, and take your bin with you.

Bear resistant bins are not available for Boundary residents at this time.

Contact us at
knowwaste@rdkb.com
Tel. 250.368.9148 (Toll-Free: 1.800.355.7352)

There are several reasons why your green bin may get left behind. The following items are not permitted in your green bin:

  • Plastic bags, including those labeled compostable or biodegradable – use cellulose-lined paper bags or line your bins with newspaper, cardboard or boxboard
  • Yard and garden waste. Check your municipality’s website for scheduled yard and garden collection days or take yard and garden waste directly to McKelvey Creek Landfill. Tipping fees apply.
  • Loose tissue/paper towel/powdery materials such as flour, sawdust or contents of vacuum canisters – contain in a heavy paper bag
  • Diapers – please place in the garbage
  • Pet waste (dog poo, cat litter, cage shavings) – place in the garbage
  • Plastics and metal – please recycle
  • Coffee/tea pods – empty, rinse and recycle with Containers
  • Disposable coffee cups – please recycle with Containers
  • Produce stickers/labels/tape

Your bin may also not get picked up if it’s too dirty – be sure to clean in regularly!

Check out our Kootenay Region Green Bin User Guide for a printable version of accepted items!

 

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

Kootenay region residents: If you are new to the Kootenay area and need a green bin or if your bin has been damaged by the collection truck, please fill out and submit this form.

  • Many “yuck” problems are caused by moisture content in food. Drain your food scraps before placing in the bin.
  • Keep the bottom of your bins dry by lining them with crumpled newspaper, boxboard, cardboard or fibre egg cartons. 
  • Use a cellulose-lined paper bin liner such as the Bag to Earth brand bag or a paper yard waste bag. DO NOT use plastic bags to line your bins, even if labeled compostable or biodegradable.
  • Wrap food waste in newspaper, old flyers or boxboard before placing in your bins.
  • Freeze smelly food scraps such as meat, fish and bones in newspaper or paper bags and place in your curbside bin on collection day.
  • Alternate layers of kitchen scraps with layers of soiled paper products.
  • Keep the lid tightly closed to keep out flies.
  • Use vinegar, salt, garden lime or diatomaceous earth to kill maggots.
  • In the summer, keep your bin in a cool, shaded spot so that it doesn’t get too hot and smelly.
  • Put your green bin out for pick-up on your scheduled collection day, even if it isn’t full.
  • Clean your bins regularly with mild soap and water.
  • Spray vinegar or sprinkle baking soda in the bin to reduce odours. 

Many of the same tips mentioned above will also help if you are having trouble with food scraps freezing to your green bin:

  • Use a Bag to Earth liner or line your bin with crumpled newspaper, cardboard, boxboard or fibre egg cartons.
  • Wrap food scraps in newspaper before placing into your bin.
  • Drain liquids before placing food scraps in the bin.

Store your bin in a garage or other warm space.

Unfortunately, yard and garden waste is not permitted in your green bin. The reason?... In order to be able to maintain proper carbon-to- nitrogen ratios at the composting facility, yard and garden waste (carbon) and food scraps (nitrogen) must be kept separate.

Yard and garden waste may be taken to McKelvey Creek Landfill. Tipping fees apply.

Kootenay area businesses and service providers are encouraged to participate in the RDKB organic waste diversion program. Tipping fees for organic waste are significantly lower than for mixed garbage, providing a strong financial incentive for large producers of organic waste to join the program.