Collection Services
General Description
There are over 25,300 homes on the City's collection program and that number is growing every year. Limiting or reducing the amount of solid waste or garbage we produce benefits everyone. In 2010, approximately 11,500 tonnes of household waste was collected from homes on the program. That's enough garbage to fill more than 2,090 garbage trucks. The good news was that in 2010, 45% of our household waste went to recycling facilities instead of the landfill. This figure was almost 5% higher than the 2006 diverted waste figure. WELL DONE NANAIMO!
In our local environment, where landfill space is extremely limited and increasingly more expensive (the cost per tonne will likely increase above the $110 / tonne being paid in 2011), the community has recognized the importance of their participation in available recycling and reuse alternatives. The public and our users have indicated they want costs controlled as much as possible, landfill space conserved wherever possible and an environmentally conscious approach that supports a user pay system. If you use more, you pay more. City of Nanaimo service levels are designed with this in mind.
Residential Kitchen Waste Service, under the Green Bin Program is City and Region wide. With this service in place, Nanaimo residents will divert close to 70% of their household waste from the landfill. Kitchen waste or food waste has been proven to make up 50% of a households residential waste going to the landfill.
User Pay
Our User Pay Food Waste, Garbage and Curbside Recycling Collection programs provide residents an incentive to control the amount of garbage they generate. Households served have garbage collection limited to 1 standard size container every 2 weeks and weekly collection of food waste through the Green Bin Program. For more information on Green Bin Service, click here Beyond Composting. Additional containers of garbage may be put out for garbage collection under an Extended Service option with one $2 tag purchased for each additional standard size container. See Basic Service information below for container size limits.
Collection Frequency (Add-a-day system)
Garbage, recycling and Green Bin Services are scheduled using an add-a-day system. Curbside recycling and garbage services are scheduled once every second week (bi-weekly), on an alternating schedule. Food and kitchen waste is collected weekly (48 litres).
Add-a-Day scheduling results in the scheduled day of collection advancing (eg Tuesday to Wednesday) by one day following each scheduled statutory holiday. The Garbage Calendar section on the left of the screen can be used to access your City Of Nanaimo garbage and recycling schedule (printable pdf file / address location).
Please have food waste, garbage and recyclables out by 8 a.m. on your collection day!
Curbside Garbage Collection Services
Basic Service
Basic Service implies 1 standard-size container of garbage is collected every second scheduled collection (bi-weekly) and food waste collected weekly from a municipally provided container (48 litres). Curbside recycling service is bi-weekly (every second week). Residential clients can put out recyclable cardboard, newspaper, mixed paper, metal food and beverage cans and plastic household containers (some restrictions apply). Further down the page, the heading Curbside Recycling Service provides more details.
Yard and Garden Waste is not collected as garbage or under City food waste, or recycling programs. Private contractors are available and typically offer services that collect this waste weekly, on a seasonal basis or on an as needed basis. Other alternatives also exist. A list of Unacceptable Waste, items that should not be placed in your garbage, is included below. The list to the left of this page with the heading Recycling / Disposal Alternatives provides information on some yard waste services available and other alternatives. Recycling and disposal information for other items that may be of interest is also provided under this heading. To better understand food waste collection, click here. Beyond Composting.
Standard Size Container Limits ( garbage and food waste ):
- Only City provided 48 litre Green Bins for food waste collection will be serviced by the City.
- Maximum weight per standard size container of 22 kilograms or 50 pounds (garbage and food waste)
- Maximum volume of 77 litres or 2 1/2 cubic feet (garbage only)
- Maximum garbage bag size 28" by 36" or 31" by 33" (garbage only)
Garbage put out in an oversized garbage can (more than 77 litre volume or 2 1/2 cubic feet) will only be picked up if contents are bagged in a standard-size garbage bag (28" by 36" or 31" by 33" max ). The oversize can is considered a vehicle to transport your garbage to the curb, the bag is considered your container.
Extended Service for Additional Garbage
By utilizing resident-purchased user pay garbage tags, additional standard size containers of garbage may be put out and collected on your scheduled garbage collection day. Each extra container put out for collection requires a $2 garbage tag. To assist residents who have garbage collection needs beyond the one (1) container per collection limit, a maximum of two additional standard-sized containers of garbage per scheduled collection may be put out for collection with the use of garbage tags. Information below explains the method. Further down the page, the heading Where to Buy Garbage Tags provides locations where tags may be purchased.
To Acquire Additional Garbage Service:
- Buy a $2.00 garbage tag or tags to access this service.
- Attach tag to a prominent place on top of each additional standard size container or bag.
- Put containers out by 8 a.m. on regular scheduled garbage collection day.
Acceptable Waste ( Garbage )
Household waste not collected through the City's Curbside Recycling Service or Green Bin Program. Food waste and other organics included in this service will not generally be acceptable as garbage except in extreme situations. See Beyond Composting.
Unacceptable Waste
- Explosives, highly flammable materials and other dangerous or offensive wastes.
- Items exceeding 0.6 meters (2 feet) in any dimension.
- Yard and garden waste.
- Food or kitchen waste.
- Materials collected through the curbside recycling program including cardboard, newspaper, mixed paper, metal food and beverage containers, and plastic household containers.
- Trade, demolition or construction waste, rocks and ashes.
- Raw sewage or septic tank sludge.
- Dead animals, animal waste, litter or feces.
- Controlled wastes including paint, engine oil, oil filters, gypsum, drywall, syringes, medications and other biomedical waste.
- Items recognized as banned at the Regional Landfill or contained within provincial Product Stewardship programs.
As part of a system designed to deal with many household hazardous wastes and other items, the Province of BC has developed a provincially mandated Stewardship Program. They focus on small electrical appliances, computers and associated equipment, motor oil, automotive oil filters, paint, pesticides, hypodermic needles, prescription and non-prescription drug disposal, waste fuels and solvents and their associated containers etc. Under these programs, industries that generate hazardous waste and their consumers assume the full cost of collection and disposal.
As of July 2010, household batteries, florescent light bulbs, automotive antifreeze and an increased number of electronics, such as stereo equipment and cell phones came under Product Stewardship programs. These items plus computers, motor oil, automotive oil filters, old or unwanted paint, pesticide, solvent and old fuel products are among the list of products associated with the Stewardship Program facilitated by Nanaimo Recycling Exchange. They will be adding to this list as new Stewardship initiatives take place.
In October 2011, a new Stewardship Program directed at small electrical appliances was initiated. This program is directed at most things with an electrical cord including personal care items such as curling irons and hair dryers and counter top appliances such as coffee makers, toasters and microwave ovens. There is an extensive list available at www.cesarecycling.ca or contact the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange depot for more information.
Nanaimo Recycling Exchange
Under Product Stewardship Programs, the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange provides a large variety of collection for containers and products related to Product Stewardship. More items will be added as new Stewardship programs are developed.
2477 Kenworth Road
Nanaimo B.C. V9S 4M8
Phone: (250) 758-7777
For more information about industry sponsored Product Stewardship Programs and the waste diverted by them call:
B.C. Recycling Hotline
Phone: 1-800-667-4321 (toll free)
Pharmaceuticals & Hypodermic Needles
Pharmaceuticals including unwanted prescription & non-prescription drugs and hypodermic needles may be returned to many local pharmacies. Please contact your favourite pharmacy to confirm.
Where to Buy Garbage Tags:
North Nanaimo
- Beban Park Recreation Centre
- Co-op Gas Bar, Bowen Road
- Co-op Gas Bar at Woodgrove Centre
- London Drugs, Nanaimo North Town Centre
- Northridge Husky
- Oliver Woods Recreation Centre
- Public Work Yard, 2020 Labieux Road
- Quality Foods, Northridge Village
- Shoppers Drug Mart, Woodgrove Centre
- Shoppers Drug Mart, Country Club Mall
- Thrifty Foods, Longwood Station
- Uplands Convenience Store (Corner of Uplands & Rutherford)
- Wal-Mart Lottery Center
Central Nanaimo
- Bowen Park Recreation Centre
- Central Drugs, Beban Plaza
- Co-op Gas Bar, Brooks Landing
- Jingle Pot General Store, Jingle Pot Road
- Pharmasave, Bowen Road
- Quality Foods, Beban Plaza, Bowen Road
- Rexall Drugs, Bowen Road
Downtown
- Nanaimo City Hall
- Development Services, 238 Franklyn Street
South Nanaimo
- Quality Foods, University Village Shopping Centre
- Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, 741 Third Street
- Pharmasave, South Parkway Plaza, Chase River
- Country Grocer, 82 Twelfth Street
- Rexall Drug Store, Southgate Centre, Chase River
- Shoppers Drug Mart, University Village Shopping Centre
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Curbside Recycling Collection Service - "It's in the Bag"
BFI (formerly Waste Services Inc.) provides bi-weekly (once every second week) curbside recycling collection to all homes on City service. See your "ADD-A-DAY" Garbage and Recycling Collection Calendar for your schedule. The City also supplies the Curbside Recycling Guide (see link below) which provides information on how to prepare your materials for recycling and collection at the curb. Materials collected under this service are not accepted as garbage.
Recyclables are collected utilizing reusable blue and yellow bags supplied to residents. Materials collected and preparation instructions are as indicated on bags provided and as described in the Curbside Recycling Guide. As an option, residents may wish to purchase a "Blue Box" or even a garbage can instead of the yellow bag supplied. These alternative containers do need to be properly labelled so recycling collection crews can easily recognize them. Call or e-mail Public Works for more information or labels for your alternate container.
Call BFI at (250) 758-5360 if you need recycling bags or pick one up at most major City of Nanaimo facilities, including: Bowen Park, Beban Park, Public Works, Nanaimo Ice Centre, Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, City Hall and Oliver Woods Community Centre.
For information contact: 250-758-5222 or email public.worksinfo@nanaimo.ca
