Residential Curbside Collection Service

The Town of Creston’s new Curbside Collection Program provides the following:

•  Food waste is collected every week
•  Garbage and recycling are collected every second week (alternating weeks).

Biweekly garbage collection has been implemented as part of the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Resource Recovery Plan to reduce landfill waste with the goal of increasing diversion of organics and recyclables.

Organics are picked up every week. Recyclable materials collection alternates; every other week, with the garbage service. Therefore food scraps and other compostable wastes are picked up as often as they had been with weekly garbage collection. Most of what’s left in the trash, won’t decompose, smell or attract pests. The “yuck factor” shouldn’t be a concern with what remains to be collected as garbage every second week.

Experience in most jurisdictions that have introduced organics collection suggests that collecting organics weekly, with garbage and recyclables collected bi-weekly, greatly assists in building participation for organics diversion.

At this time, lids on curbside recycling bins will not be permitted. Lids on bins generally have a tighter fit, are more difficult for collectors to remove than those on garbage cans, and are more prone to cracking and breaking. Additionally, because residents are entitled to put out unlimited recycling bins, it could significantly slow the collection process down if lids had to be removed from multiple bins at each household. This causes an increase in truck emissions as well.

Concerned about litter? We kindly ask that if you find recyclable materials that have escaped bins on or near your property, that you pick them up and put them in your bin for the next collection. Some steps can be taken to reduce the amount of litter from your recycling bins:

• Put out more bins in order to keep the level of material in each bin below the rim and help prevent recyclables from falling and blowing out.
• Organize your recyclables so that heavier items are on top of the lighter items.
• Put your recyclables out on the morning of your collection day instead of the night before will also help reduce litter.

Certification standards currently allow a plastic to be called "biodegradable" or "compostable" if it breaks down to a specified degree, over a minimum period of time, when exposed to a certain minimum temperature and other physical conditions.

You may also see many of these “compostable plastic” products identified as plant-based renewable resources made from corn starch, bamboo or sugarcane.  These products are what is considered PLA (Polylactic Acid) plastics.  PLA plastic is often hailed as an eco-friendly packaging solution. PLA plastics are still “plastic” and require up to 24 months to breakdown under ideal composing conditions. Only a handful of facilities specialize in composting of degradable plastics and unfortunately, at this time, Creston’s composting facility is not one of them. Therefore, they are not permitted for use in Creston’s food waste collection stream.

At this time, the curbside collection of organics is limited to food waste only.  No yard and garden wastes (grass, weeds, leaves, pruning’s etc.) will be allowed in the compost bin. 

Yard waste can be taken to the Creston Landfill – Compost Facility (1501 Mallory Road) at any time during their normal operating hours. Yard waste taken to the landfill will be charged at the going rate for ‘Yard and Garden Waste’.  Effective January 2022, this rate is $2 Per 120L container (first 2 containers), $5/ load for Loads ≤ 2.5 m3 and $50/ tonne for Loads > 2.5 m3.  These rates may be amended from time to time by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

During the months of April and October (only) the Creston Landfill accepts Yard & Garden Waste for FREE.  This practice is subject to the conditions placed upon it by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Yard waste will continue to be collected, at the curb, three times a year (triannual) – once in the spring and twice in the fall.   This service is provided by Town of Creston Crews not Tip-It Waste Solutions.

Subject to changes due to weather, yard waste collection can be expected as follows:

• Spring – the week immediately following the Easter long weekend.
• Fall pickup #1 – the week immediately following the Thanksgiving long weekend.
• Fall pickup #2 – the full week immediately following Remembrance Day.

In the Fall of 2022, the Town plans to ask residents how they feel about increasing the frequency of yard waste collection at the curb.  An upcoming survey will compare the current triannual service with yard waste options featuring increased collection frequency and cost.  The goal of the Fall 2022 survey, will be to gauge the communities support and willingness to pay for additional yard waste collection events.

The Compost Facility at the Creston Landfill will work to ensure a Class A compost is consistently and reliably produced. In the early stages of the processing and throughout operations, we will be working hard to mitigate contamination and maintain ideal temperatures, O2 content, and nutrient ratios to satisfy provincial regulations on a Class A compost, that is suitable for resale. Any Class B or lower products will be used in remediation projects at the landfill to build soil in degraded areas.   

In terms of opportunities for purchasing a Class A compost product, it is indeed the intention to make this available. Exactly how much and at what cost, still needs to be determined. 

The curbside collection of organics is limited to food waste only.  No garden trimmings (grass, weeds, etc) will be allowed in the compost bin.

Yard waste can be taken to the Creston Landfill – Compost Facility (1501 Mallory Road) at any time during their normal operating hours. Yard waste taken to the landfill will be charged at the going rate for ‘Yard and Garden Waste’.  Effective January 2022, this rate is $2 Per 120L container (first 2 containers), $5/ load for Loads ≤ 2.5 m3 and $50/ tonne for Loads > 2.5 m3. These rates may be amended from time to time by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

During the months of April and October (only) the Creston Landfill accepts Yard & Garden Waste for FREE.  This practice is subject to the conditions placed upon it by the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Yard waste will continue to be collected, at the curb, three times a year – once in the spring and twice in the fall. This service is provided by Town of Creston Crews not Tip-It Waste Solutions.

Subject to changes due to weather, yard waste collection can be expected as follows:

·         Spring – the week immediately following the Easter long weekend.

·         Fall pickup #1 – the week immediately following the Thanksgiving long weekend.

·         Fall pickup #2 – the full week immediately following Remembrance Day.

The curbside program Creston offers requires that all garbage be bagged, even if placed in a garbage container/ can. If your trash is loose in a container it will not be collected.

From a worker safety perspective, if there is loose garbage, collectors are exposure to germs and decreasing efficiencies. Loose trash also has the potential to attract dogs, wild animals and rodents.

If your container is knocked over and loose debris is scatted around, it causes operations to be slowed and presents safety issues with loose materials being scattered about. Loose trash is very difficult to keep contained. Additionally, it creates a kink in our daily operations – meaning routes run slower, costs increase and customers are impacted.

In addition, garbage containers that are filled with loose a trash can become very dirty on the inside. After a while a mixture of scents, residues and grime takes hold. Before you know, you un-intentionally start inviting insects, mold, critters and offensive odors to takeover. 

We understand that using plastic bags is not good for the environment but in order for our curbside program to work to its highest efficiency, and to protect workers, all garbage MUST be bagged or it will not be collected.

The cost for the curbside collection of food waste, recycling and garbage is $125.50/ year for single-family and multi-family residential use. Secondary suites are charged $73.50 for the program, albeit at reduced collection quantities.

The program is available to all single-family residential, secondary suites and multi-family residential properties with up to 4 units. Multi-family properties (ie., apartments) with 5 or more units are excluded from the curbside program but they can apply to join.

The food waste bins have a security catch, but are not bear proof.  Food waste will be collected on a weekly basis to minimize real and perceived hygiene issues, and the potential for attraction of animals.

For collection purposes, containers should be kept at ground level or on a platform flush with the ground or not more that 30cm in height above the ground.  We ask that containers be placed next to the street, but if you construct a platform to place your bins on it should be far enough back from the edge of the street that it doesn’t obstruct snow removal equipment, vehicles or pedestrian traffic.  

We would suggest that you try to find a location no closer than 3ft, but no further than 6ft, from the edge of the road.  A permit is not required for construction of a simple platform or flatted area within the boulevard.

Containers must be kept entirely on the premises except when placed adjacent to the street or lane for the purpose of collection.

Yes, the work you see at the Creston landfill is the new Composting Facility. 

Work on this facility started July 5^th and most of the civil works (asphalt pad, concrete foundation/footings for mixing building, leachate collection pond, water supply well, ditching, electrical building etc.) is now complete. 

At this time, work is delayed as the Contractor waits for delivery of the mixing and receiving building.  Building delivery is expected in mid-December or possibly January. 

Once the building is installed, the final equipment installation and remaining electrical work can be completed, with commissioning expected in the late winter/ early spring.

Completion is anticipated to be in advance of the Town's launch of the enhance curbside program (recycling, kitchen waste & garbage) expected in mid - spring 2022.

Garbage is currently collected weekly to a limit of two containers, each to a maximum weight of 50lb. Bins and bags are supplied by residents. Extra "bag tags" can be purchased at Town Hall, if additional garbage collection is required from time to time. The Town currently contracts Tip-It Waste Solutions to collect residential and commercial garbage.

Yard waste is collected at the curb once in spring, twice in fall. Kraft paper bags or reusable bins are supplied by residents. This service is provided by the Town Public Works crew.

The Town does not currently collect kitchen scraps or recyclables at the curb.