Updated at 10:20 am: Recycling and organics collection will resume for homes in Zone 6. Crews will attempt to collect where the roads are cleared and deemed safe. Please see the Garbage and Recycling section below for more information on missed collections.
Nanaimo received less snow than expected overnight. However, what we did get was heavy and is making for slippery conditions.
Temperatures are expected to rise significantly on Saturday, which may create flooding. Residents are also asked to help prevent flooding by clearing any catch basins or storm drains in front of their homes and businesses. If flooding occurs, sand and sand bags for filling (bring a shovel and ties) are available at the Public Works yard. To report flooding, please call Public Works 24-hour hotline at 250-758-5222.
On the Roads
A total of 15 trucks and 1 backhoe were out last night clearing and salting priority routes. Crews will continue to work through the city to clear and salt roads. Due to the snow and rain mix and the temperature hovering around freezing, roads are slippery - particularly residential hills.
Drivers, if you have to be on the roads today, be prepared, plan your route accordingly and drive according to conditions:
- slow down,
- give other vehicles lots of room,
- have patience for other drivers,
- make sure you vehicle is winter ready with winter-rated tires
- clear the outside of your vehicle of snow and ice, and
- pay extra attention for pedestrians and cyclists.
If you are walking and cycling, please make sure vehicles can see you by wearing high visibility clothing and, if possible, a light. Pedestrians, please make sure vehicles have come to a complete stop before you cross the street.
Please make sure to give City plows plenty of room to work as they may make wide right turns or other unexpected movements to clear snow and spread salt.
Find more information on the City's response to Snow and Ice.
Garbage and Recycling
Due to unsafe driving conditions, scheduled garbage and recycling collections for homes in Zone 1 have been cancelled, Crews will attempt collection from homes in Zone 6 where the roads are cleared and deemed safe.
For residents with missed collections, the City will accommodate for extra recycling and garbage collection. Residents with missed recycling collection will be able to put extra recycling out on their next scheduled recycling collection day. Similarly, for missed garbage collection, residents will be able to put extra garbage out on their next scheduled garbage collection day.
Recyclables: When putting out extra recyclables on your next recycling day, please place them in an easy-to-empty reusable container or tote if possible, and place this 1 metre behind or beside your blue cart when you take it to the curbside for pickup. If a reusable container or tote is not available, a cardboard box may be used. The volume of extra recyclables put out must not exceed the capacity of the blue cart and the size of the container used must not be greater in width than the blue cart.
Garbage: When putting out extra garbage on your next garbage pickup day, please place your bag (up to two) 1 metre to the side or behind the black cart (not in front) and ensure that they are tied. An extra garbage bag cannot exceed 60 litres in capacity and must not weigh more than 25 lbs.
Residents who did not receive collection service and have limited storage capacity will be provided with a one-time free drop-off ticket for the Regional District of Nanaimo Landfill. Please send an email request to
Public.WorksInfo@nanaimo.ca and include the following details:
Subject line: Free Drop-off Request
Email Body: Full Name
Home Address
Licence Plate of the vehicle making the drop-off at the landfill
The City continues to monitor road conditions and will be updating the City’s website and the Nanaimo Recycles app (available on Google Play and the Apple App Store).
Stay up to date with Garbage and Recycling collection.
Parks and Recreation
All Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities are open and programs are running.
Please do not venture out onto local lakes as they are not completely frozen.
Please use caution in Nanaimo's parks. Trails, boardwalks, bridges, stairs and playground equipment can become slippery and hazardous when there is snow and ice.
If cancelations or closures do occur, you can check before you come. Stay up to date with Parks, Recreation and Culture.
Around Your Home/Business
To help avoid flooding, please clear ice, snow, leaves and debris from catch basins and storm drains in front of your property. If flooding occurs, sand and sand bags for filling (bring a shovel and ties) are available at the Public Works yard. To report flooding, please call Public Works 24-hour hotline at 250-758-5222.
To prevent pipes from freezing/bursting, let your cold water faucets drip overnight.
Thank you to residents and businesses who have cleared sidewalks in front of their properties.
Please do your best to remove snow and ice from sidewalks in front of your property within 24 hours, so that pedestrians have a safe place to walk and can stay clear of oncoming traffic. Please do not shovel snow onto the road. If you know of someone who may need a helping hand, please reach out to them.
The City clears sidewalks around parks, bridges, commuter trails and major City facilities as quickly as staff can get to them. Parks operations has 9 pieces of snow clearing equipment and 1 shovel crew out today.