By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) will be holding a series of open house events around its shift to new curbside collection carts for properties in Electoral Areas A through I ahead of the delivery of new carts in June 2025.
Earlier this year, the Regional District signed a contract with Waste Connections of Canada requiring properties in RDOS rural areas to receive new carts for garbage, recycling, and yard waste. The new cart collection program is scheduled to begin in July 2025.
RDOS carts will match similar programs currently in place in the City of Penticton, District of Summerland, and Town of Oliver. Additional unlimited yard waste collections will be scheduled for the spring and fall. Food scraps will not initially be collected as the RDOS develops plans for a regional compost facility.
Standard-size carts, which suit the needs of most residents, will be delivered in June 2025. If the standard-size cart does not meet your needs, you can request
Larger or smaller carts can be requested by completing a cart change-out form. The form will be available at the open house events and online at rdos.bc.ca and rdosregionalconnections.ca. Additional costs will be levied for upsizing to larger garbage or yard waste carts to cover additional tipping fees, the RDOS says..
Residents who own a cart that may fit within the cart size specifications can have their cart evaluated and if approved for use, will receive a one-time rebate towards the cost of collection and it will fall under the replacement program if it is damaged. Email [email protected] with name, address, and photos of the cart(s) to have them individually evaluated for possible inclusion in curbside collection.
Properties currently receiving recycling-only curbside collection will need to re-confirm that they are being serviced by an adequate garbage or recycling service by contacting RDOS Solid Waste.
The open house events are aimed at providing more information and answering questions residents might have around the new program.
In Osoyoos the open house will be held at Sonora Centre (8505 68th Ave) on Wednesday, Nov.. 13 at 6 p.m. and in Oliver at the Oliver Community Hall (6150 Main St.) on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. A live (recorded) session will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. and available on the RDOS website.
For further information, visit the RDOS Regional Connections Curbside Collection project page at rdosregionalconnections.ca, email [email protected] or call the Solid Waste Hotline at 250-490-4129. As a high volume of calls is anticipated, RDOS staff will return messages within two business days.
