Everything you need to know about curbside organics collection in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is ready to roll out its curbside organic waste collection program.

In a news release distributed Friday (June 23), the city says bins will be distributed to eligible single-family and multi-family homes starting on July 5.

Schedule for bin deliveries:

• July 5-13: Zone 3 (Downtown, Sagebrush, East portion of North Shore, West End, Lower Sahali, Dufferin)
• July 12-18: Zone 4 (Upper Sahali, Aberdeen)
• July 17-25: Zone 5 (Valleyview, Rose Hill, Juniper Ridge, Dallas, Barnhartvale)
• July 24-Aug. 1: Zone 1 (Westsyde, Batchelor Heights, Rayleigh, Heffley Creek)
• July 31-Aug. 8: Zone 2 (West portion of North Shore, Brocklehurst)
  Image Credit: City of Kamloops

The city says about 27,000 households will get the bin kits. They will include a 120-litre cart, a small kitchen bin for collecting food scraps, 30 of the accepted paper bin liners, a new Solid Waste Collection Guide and a collection schedule.

Anyone who requires a second small kitchen bin — for a suite, for example — can request one online.

Accepted material in the organics bin will include:

• Kitchen food scraps (raw and cooked food, grains and breads, dairy, fruits and vegetables, meat/fish/bones, egg/seafood shells, sauces and condiments)
• Food-soiled paper (paper napkins/towels, newsprint, paper bags, paper plates, pizza boxes, coffee grounds/filters, tea bags, wooden chopsticks, popsicle sticks, takeout containers)
• Some yard waste

A more detailed list of what can go into organics carts is available here.

The first time organics will be collected is scheduled for August 21 (Zone 4).

Once organics collection begins, it will be collected at curbside every week. At that time, garbage and recycling will be collected on alternating weeks, meaning a maximum of two bins per household will be left at curbside per week.

Kamloops council approved the rollout of the city-wide organics collection program in August 2022 after an extensive pilot program.

More details are available here.