Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste

Be aware that waste collection will not take place on Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2023) or New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2024), which both fall on Mondays. For residents who place their carts to the curb on Mondays, take note that your carts will be collected the Saturday before your usual date.

This means the collection on Dec. 25 will instead take place on Saturday, Dec. 23.

Also, collection on Jan. 1 will take place on Saturday, Dec. 30. Place your carts to the curb by 7 a.m.  to ensure pickup. 

An additional week of recycling collection will be added in December to help residents clear out the extra packaging that accumulates during the holiday season. This will be collected for three consecutive weeks on your regular collection day starting Dec. 11. 

Items that can be recycled 

Many paper and cardboard items can be added to your curbside collection, including wrapping paper, greeting cards and paper gift bags. Place these items loosely in your recycling cart, flattening boxes and taking care not to stack items together. 

However, take note that common holiday items such as toys, electronics, Christmas lights, ribbons and bows, and foil wrap are not accepted in your home recycling carts. If you’re not sure how to dispose of an item, try entering the name of your item into the City’s online ‘What Goes Where?’ tool on our Recycling page.

If you have extra garbage that will not fit into your designated cart, you can purchase tag-a-bag stickers from City Hall, City Yards or the Community Centre. Simply place the sticker onto the bag to ensure it is collected.

Place your carts out at their designated collection point by 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled garbage day. Garbage collection may be limited in laneways and side streets that trucks cannot safely access. If your garbage is not collected by the end of the day, residents can place an extra bag of garbage alongside their carts on their next collection day.

Tips for placing out carts during snow events: 

• Find or clear an unobstructed spot to locate your carts. 
• Consider placing one cart on either side of your driveway after it’s been cleared of snow.
• Make sure carts are one metre away from any obstacles.
• Please do not place any carts behind or on top of snow banks. 
• Clear the lids of your carts of ice and snow.

Carts not picked up? Please contact Waste Connections of Canada directly at 250-490-3888 or email csr-penticton-osoyoos@wasteconnections.com 

To ensure that the contents of your cart are safely and efficiently collected, please keep in mind the following:

• Park: Park your carts at their designated collection point no later than 7:00 am on your regular day of collection.

• Place: Place your carts so the arrows on the top of the lid are pointed towards the centre of the road or laneway. The wheels on the cart will be facing your home. The lid must be securely closed or collection will not occur.

• Space: Park and Place your carts so that there is a minimum of 1m/3ft of space between the carts, and that obstacles such as trees and vehicles are a minimum of 1m/3ft away from your carts.

Cart Reminders

In order to safely and efficiently collect your garbage, recycling, and yard waste, we ask you to keep in mind the following:

• Ensure the lid of your cart is firmly closed. Carts that are overfilled or with open lids will not be collected. This is important as carts with open lids have a high probability of breaking due to the mechanical arms on the automated garbage truck.
• Leave a minimum of 1m/3ft of clear space around your carts. The mechanized arm that grasps your cart during the collection process needs the 1m/3ft of space in order to safely grab and dump your cart. Carts that are not spaced correctly or placed too close to vehicles or obstacles cannot be collected.
• Place carts directly on the street and off of sidewalks. Ensure carts are facing forwards by having the arrows on the lid pointing towards the centre of the street/laneway, and have the wheels touching the curb. Carts that are placed on sidewalks cannot be collected because this creates a safety hazard for pedestrians.

Visit our Recycling page to try the online Wizard tool

Place your carts out at their designated collection point by 7 a.m. on your regularly scheduled garbage day. Garbage collection may be limited in laneways and side streets that trucks cannot safely access. If your garbage is not collected by the end of the day, residents can place an extra bag of garbage alongside their carts on their next collection day.

Tips for placing out carts during snow events: 

• Find or clear an unobstructed spot to locate your carts. 
• Consider placing one cart on either side of your driveway after it’s been cleared of snow.
• Make sure carts are one metre away from any obstacles.
• Please do not place any carts behind or on top of snow banks. 
• Clear the lids of your carts of ice and snow.

Carts not picked up? Please contact Waste Connections of Canada directly at 250-490-3888 or email csr-penticton-osoyoos@wasteconnections.com 

Do you need to change the sizes or quantity of carts at your home? Visit our Cart Program page to learn more about your options.

Garbage collection is a contracted service through Waste Connections of Canada. Please call them directly at 250-490-3888.

Your feedback is appreciated! Please fill out our online Request a Service form and a City staff member will respond.  

If your matter is urgent, you can contact Penticton City Yards at 250-490-2500 or email publicworks@penticton.ca.