Vernon’s new residential waste collection service launched with only minor hiccups Monday, and the city is again reminding residents about changes to their service.
Residents who receive curbside pickup will now have their household organics (kitchen and yard waste) collected every week, and household garbage collected every second week.
Collection zones have been updated, meaning some residents have a brand new collection day. Residents can find their collection day and garbage schedule in the city’s interactive map at vernon.ca/collectionschedule.
Some of the collection work on a busy launch day carried over into Tuesday morning.
“Yesterday, North Vernon and the Blue Jay subdivision were scheduled to receive organics and garbage collection. Unfortunately, crews were unable to complete the full route, which means some residences were missed,” the city said in a press release. “Collection crews are back on the road this morning and are returning to the area north of 43rd Avenue and in the Blue Jay subdivision.”
Crews were also collecting in the Harwood, East Hill and Middleton Mountain areas Tuesday.
A number of residents have asked about paper products, which are listed as acceptable materials in the new organics carts.
The city says cardboard, paper and newspaper should only be used to line organics carts or wrap organic materials such as kitchen waste before placing it in the cart. This helps keep the cart clean and makes it easier for compost to fall out of the cart and into the collection truck.
However, larger quantities of cardboard, paper and newspaper should be placed in the blue recycling bin.
“The organics collection program is not a replacement for the recycling program,” the release states. More information on what can be recycled through the Recycle BC program can be found at recyclebc.ca.
Residents in apartments or multi-family units without curbside collection can still take part in the organics diversion program.
A community compost bin remains in place at the Vernon Recreation Complex in the parking lot near the auditorium on 39th Avenue. The city is requesting that only kitchen organics be deposited at the bin, given how many people the bin may serve.
Acceptable items for the community bin include fruits, vegetables, bones, raw or cooked meat, fats, eggs and eggshells, nuts, cheese, pasta, rice, sauces, syrup, tea bags and loose leaf tea, coffee grounds and filters, and soiled paper products such as paper towel.
For more information on the city’s new waste collection service and the organics program, visit vernon.ca/organics.
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