Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Kneeshaw

ORGANICS COLLECTION

Kamloops organics collection temporarily shifting to bi-weekly pickup during winter months

Nov 9, 2023 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops residents are being advised of an upcoming schedule shift to the curbside organics collection. Starting December 1 for the duration of the winter season, bins will be picked up every two weeks, instead of once a week.

It’s a temporary shift, based on information gathered during the pilot stage of the organics program, which found a large decrease in the amount of material put into the organics bins during the winter.

“Because of that, for the months of December, January and February, we’re going to go to bi-weekly collection for the organics,” said Streets and Environmental Services Manager Glen Farrow. “The rest of the year, you’ll receive weekly collection but in these colder months, it’ll be bi-weekly service.”

Garbage and recycling will continue as-is, with bi-weekly collection. But Farrow notes there are some stat holidays over the winter that will bring some longer stretches in between pick ups.

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“There is a stretch there where it’s going to be not just 14 days between collection but up to 20 days between your collection,” he explains. “We’re encouraging residents to look at that and consider that.”

Residents who have found their current recycling or garbage cart isn’t the right size anymore can put in a request to upsize or downsize their container. This can be done through the Civic Operations Centre at 250-828-3461 between 8:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m, Monday to Friday.

“The model we have today in 2023 is significantly different than what the waste stream looked like in 1985, when we just threw it all into one cart, one bin and one landfill. There still are consequences from those practices,” says Farrow. “Now, you’ve really got to think and consider what’s going into each of those bins.”

When the temperature gets below freezing, Farrow adds that it is helpful if residents are a little bit strategic about how they’re disposing of certain organics items.

“As we’ve seen colder temperatures over the last couple of weeks, we have seen some of the organics actually stick in the carts,” he says. “We are encouraging residents to layer the material inside the cart with dry leaves, with cardboard on the edges in order to get that product to flow properly when our operators tip it in the truck.”

Farrow also notes that plastic of any kind cannot be discarded in the city organics bins. Even in the label on the plastic items claims to be compostable, biodegradable, or ‘eco-friendly’.

Collection schedules, and a full list of what can go into the garbage, recycling, and organics bins can be found on the city’s Waste-Wise app.