Here’s everything you need to know about changes to your garbage and recycling collection this holiday season.
Be aware that waste collection will not take place on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, which both fall on a Thursday. For residents who place their carts at the curb on Thursday, take note that your carts will be collected one day after your usual date, on Friday, Dec. 26.
This means that for residents who place their carts at the curb on Friday, your carts will be collected on Saturday, Dec. 27. It is important to place your carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day to ensure pickup.
| Regular Collection Day | Pickup will occur instead on |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Dec. 25 | Friday, Dec. 26 |
| Friday, Dec. 26 | Saturday, Dec. 27 |
| Thursday, Jan. 1 | Friday, Jan. 2 |
| Friday, Jan. 2 | Saturday, Jan. 3 |
Additional recycling collection
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 starting the week of Dec. 22.
Items that can be recycled
Many paper and cardboard items can be added to your curbside collection, including wrapping paper, greeting cards, paper gift bags, paper boxes and toy packaging. Place these items loosely in your recycling cart, flattening boxes and taking care not to stack items together. Baking items like pie trays, chocolate boxes and cookie tins can also go into your recycling cart.
However, take note that common holiday items such as toys, electronics, Christmas lights, string, ribbons and bows 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 at penticton.ca/recycling.
Tag-a-bag stickers for extra garbage
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. Be sure to check office hours in advance of purchasing a tag-a-bag sticker.
Tips for snowy days
If it’s snowing outside, place your carts out as usual by 7 a.m. Ensure they are one metre away from any obstacles and not placed on top of snowbanks. Clear the lids of ice and snow. If your garbage is not collected by the end of the day due to snow, you may place an extra bag of garbage alongside your cart on the next collection day. For more tips, visit penticton.ca/snow.
Where to get more information
Carts not picked up? Please contact Waste Connections of Canada directly at 250-490-3888.
For more information on the City’s recycling program, visit penticton.ca/recycling or reach out to the waste diversion team at solidwaste@penticton.ca. To set up an automated collection reminder, visit penticton.ca/garbagereminder.
Live in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and have collection on a Thursday? Check out the most recent collection calendar at rdos.bc.ca/curbside or contact the RDOS solid waste hotline at 250-490-4129.