Trail’s public works department will soon begin the annual fall cleanup around the city.
This year marks a significant change for Trail homeowners and tenants: clear plastic bags -- or any plastic bag for that matter -- are no longer permitted for yard and garden waste collection.
Additionally, branches must be bundled using cotton or fibre-based string.
Only compostable kraft paper bags will be accepted.
Plastic bags are no longer allowed as the regional district no longer accepts yard and garden materials in plastic bags, and similarly, plastic cannot be used for bundling either.
Compostable paper bags can be purchased at local stores, including Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Home Hardware.
Yard and garden waste collected in municipal programs will be composted at the McKelvey Creek Landfill.
Another important update is that no invasive weeds will be collected as part of the fall yard and garden waste program.
“At the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, residents are asked to place invasive weeds in clear plastic bags for free disposal at the McKelvey Creek Regional Landfill, but they must be bagged,” explains Claire Samulak, Trail’s communications manager.
“If invasive weeds are collected with regular yard and garden waste, the entire load would be contaminated and sent to the landfill instead of being composted."
For information about managing knotweed, visit ckiss.ca.
Collection dates
Pickups will take place between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on the specified dates for each neighbourhood.
Homeowners and tenants are asked to have their yard waste ready by 7 a.m. on the first scheduled day in their area.
Please note, city crews will only make one pass through each neighbourhood, and any materials left out after the specified dates will not be picked up.
Branch bundles and paper bags will be collected separately and at different times.
Schedule
Glenmerry/Waneta — Monday, Oct. 21 and Tuesday, Oct. 22
Miral Heights/Shaver’s Bench — Wednesday, Oct. 23
East Trail — Thursday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 25
Sunningdale — Monday, Oct. 28 and Tuesday, Oct. 29
West Trail — Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 31
Tadanac — Monday, Nov. 4 and Tuesday, Nov. 5
Collection tips
Only yard and garden waste (leaves, grass, and branches up to six inches in diameter) will be collected.
All leaves, grass, and garden refuse must be placed in compostable kraft paper bags. Loose materials will not be picked up.
Branches must be bundled in lengths no longer than six feet and tied with cotton or fibre-based string.
City crews will collect a maximum of one cubic yard of waste, approximately the size of a half-ton truckload.
Excess materials will be left behind.
Yard waste should be placed at the property line near regular garbage collection spots.
Residents are reminded that only permitted yard and garden waste should be left at the property line.
Other refuse must be taken to recycling facilities or the landfill.
Municipal collection
For yard and garden waste collection, residents should reach out to their individual municipality to check for dates and further information as each town differs with their collection schedule.
What each municipality shares, however, is that plastic bags and plastic twines for bundling are no longer accepted in yard and garden waste municipal collections.
