New Green Bin Program - RDKB Kootenay Region

Thank-you Tessa!  We too think the green bin program will be an amazing addition to our area!  

Great question with regards to multi-unit buildings.  Our collections program will be targeting multi-unit buildings up to a maximum of 4 units or less.  For example, duplex, triplex and 4 plex units that presently have curbside access will be included in the program.  

A multi-unit building that has more than 4 units (most apartment blocks) will not meet the requirements for this collection program. Be aware that you can still participate in kitchen scraps organics collection.  If your building has more than 4 units, please reach out to your property manager or landlord to inquire about services.  

Thank-you for your comments, William. 

We appreciate your concerns regarding bear-human conflicts.  Residents have always been responsible for their garbage, with storage at home, and placement on collection day.  This responsibility also includes proper management of BBQs, fruit trees, bird feeders and back yard chicken coops.  We will be asking residents to treat their green bins in the same responsible manner with proper storage, and when bringing their green bins to the curbside on collection days.  

We have many ‘tips and tricks’ to secure our bins, here are a few for example:

1. Store your garbage and green bins in a closed, locked garage or shed.  Even if empty – bins will hold a residual smell
2. If a bin is stored outside, anchor it to a post using a cable so that it can’t be dragged away.
3. Place bins at the roadside only on the morning of collection – never the night before.  
4. Minimize odours by freezing meat and other smelly food scraps, and don’t put them in the green bin until collection day

The Bear resistant Bins that the RDKB will be offering residents in a trade-in program this fall are a ‘Bear Resistant’ bin certified by the IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee), but that does not make them ‘bear proof’.  The bear bin is one more tool in our tool box that we need in an attempt to prevent bear-human conflicts.  Again, these bins should be stored responsibly similar to a resident’s garbage.  

Bears frequent ALL of the areas included in our new green bin curbside organics program that starts this October.  As stated on the Province of British Columbia website, "Human wildlife conflict is a serious issue in British Columbia, and each year too many bears and other wildlife are killed because of human decisions and behaviour.  The most effective and natural way to prevent conflicts with wildlife in urban areas is to put garbage, birdseed, compost, and pet food away, and to keep fruit from trees off the ground. Communities where attractants are managed properly have less human-wildlife conflicts and fewer animals destroyed".

Great question Krista.  

The answer is NO to both of your questions.  The green bins we will be using are a semi-automated bar lock style that will be dumped using a semi automated lifter on the truck (lifter arms are 'fully automated' - where the driver/operator doesn't have to get out of the truck).   The residential garbage will be placed in a separate section of the split packer truck manually.   

Thank-you for your question.  The RDKB will provide residents with a starter pack of 'Bag to Earth' liners when the green bins are delivered in August.  Residents will receive a green bin, kitchen catcher, Bag to Earth bin liners and an education and information package.  Paper Bin liners are only optional and provide a way for households to keep their bins clean although the kitchen catchers will also be dishwasher safe.  NO PLASTICS are accepted in the green bin program, therefore stay away from plastic bin liner products even if they say they are 'biodegradable' or 'compostable'.  The Bag to Earth products are located locally at:  Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, No Frills, Safeway and Ferraro Foods.  

Hello Suz, we appreciate your question and concerns.  You are correct that the RDKB will be charging $3 per bag of garbage starting October 1. The City of Trail will provide information with regards to the Oct-Dec 2023 garbage fees that have already been paid with resident's 2023 utility bills.  Residents of Trail will not see a garbage fee with utility bills moving forward.  Garbage service will be paid through the RDKB's user pay tag system.     

The initiation of the green bin organics program is a part of the Regional District’s commitment to Zero Waste Goals.  If a household participates in the ‘RecycleBC’ blue box curbside recycling program, and participates in the new upcoming green bin program, there should be a significant reduction in their household garbage.  Also, if a household recycles other products accepted at the Trail Bottle Depot such as deposit bottles, cans, and containers, flexible plastics, electronics or styrofoam, there should be very little garbage leftover.  For an average household, one $3 garbage tag every 2-3 weeks will likely handle all the garbage that needs to be collected, therefore saving that household a significant amount of money on waste disposal.  To assist you with a product list of recyclable materials, here is a link to the RecycleBC website which gives information on what you can recycle and where.  https://recyclebc.ca/what-can-i-recycle/

Thank-you for your question and comments Fitzy.

Our garbage and green bin organics collections contractor will be using new split packer trucks for the residential pick-up of both of these waste streams on a weekly basis.  We are letting residents know that they can use the McKelvey Creek Regional Landfill for their garbage and green bin organics drop off if they have missed a collection date or to save it for the following week for pick up.  You will receive your green bin and kitchen catcher this August 2023.