GARBAGE & RECYCLING

The current Garbage and Recycling Calendar link is located at the bottom of the page.

GARBAGE

Over the years, the Village of Fruitvale Council has moved towards a complete user pay system with household garbage where the home owner is in control of how much he/she pays for garbage. No longer will you have to pay taxes to subsidize your neighbour's waste. Residents are required to purchase marked garbage bags from the Village Office for a set fee per bag/package. Residents are not restricted to the number of bags put out on collection day, but they are required to pay for each bag that is put out. Therefore, by reducing your own waste you will save money. If you choose to produce garbage you will have to pay for it. People have to change their habits - and they can be changed - one step at a time.

Garbage collection is performed by the Public Works Department. Bags that are too heavy to lift up into the garbage truck or bags that are not tied shut will not be picked up. Garbage must be to the curb for 7:00 a.m. to ensure pick-up. The garbage truck will not return to your residence to pick up garbage that wasn't out when the truck went by. 

Litter containers downtown and in the parks are not to be used for household garbage. Litter containers are for items such as beverage cups and food wrappers. Throwing garbage on the ground is an offense under the "Parks Regulation By-law No. 459, 1989" and is subject to a fine. Help keep Fruitvale clean by disposing of garbage properly.

RECYCLING

The Village of Fruitvale Council has adopted a "Zero Waste" policy which coincides with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundaries Zero Waste Strategy. To view the RDKB’‘s Recycling Information click here

Zero Waste is a philosophy and a design principle for the 21st Century that includes ‘‘recycling’‘, but goes beyond recycling by taking a ‘‘whole system’‘ approach to the vast flow of resources and waste through human society. Zero Waste maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace. Click here to learn more about Zero Waste.

Alpine Recycling is the contractor for the Blue Box & Recycling Program. Blue box recycling is done once every two weeks and boxes must be placed at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on your recycling day.

Each residence in Fruitvale was given a blue box and a blue bag in which to place their recyclable items. All cans, plastic bottles, and glass jars must be washed and flattened (if possible) and labels removed before placing in the blue box. Newspapers and flyers go in the bottom of the blue box. All mixed paper, including the labels from the cans, bottles and jars go in the blue bag, again flattening cereal boxes and the like before placing in the bag. Extra boxes and bags can be purchased at the Village Office for a nominal charge.

Large recycling bins can be found downtown Fruitvale, behind Liberty Foods Store.

Click Here to read "Ways To Reduce Your Garbage"

pRECYCLING

What is pRecycling you ask?

pRecycling means you are not purchasing garbage to begin with by consciously choosing items that reduce your household garbage.

Most of us know the Three R's of waste reduction: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. These are the basics but there are a couple of more R's in ZERO Waste. Sure, part of ZERO Waste is to practice Recycling, but when you are walking the aisles of the grocery store, there are a couple things to think about. It may mean looking a little harder or paying a little more for items which are not 'disposable'. These items do not show the complete costs of disposal. Items that are designed for obsolescence often contain toxic ingredients that will last for generations before they break down. Plastics and styrofoam are unrealistically cheap, yet are made of an increasingly scarce natural resource – petroleum. Choices we make in the grocery store have long-term impacts. The Village of Fruitvale is working with the RDKB to become a ZERO Waste community and we are encouraging residents to be active in Refusing unnecessary packaging. Be confident about asking your grocer for products that Reduce garbage.

Did you know that the average Canadian throws away the equivalent of their body weight each month? Let your friends know what you are doing to reduce your 'waste' and ask them what they are doing to reduce theirs. We all have to work together to achieve the goal of ZERO Waste!

Choose these products when you are pRecycling:

• Plastic milk jugs: #2 plastic is easy to recycle. Milk cartons are recyclable with plastics in your blue box. Also consider glass milk containers where they are available.
• Fresh fruit & veggies: you’ll have to each more processed and packaged produce to get the same nutritional value found in fresh, locally-grown produce.
• Shop the bulk foods section: buy only what you need. ReUse the bags or bring your own.
• Concentrated products: less volume means less packaging is needed. e.g. laundry detergent.
• Products that use recycled materials: complete 'recycling' requires consumer demand for products that use recycled material. Close the Loop!
• Rechargeable batteries: these are significantly cheaper in the long run and always handy.
• Reusable containers: some items are packaged in containers designed to be reused. e.g. mustard in glass mugs.
• Vinegar and baking soda are some of the most effective and least toxic household cleaners.

Avoid these products:

• Disposable mops and any single use cleaning products as these items needlessly replace reusable rags.
• Disposable anything: many disposable products contain materials that are toxic and pose a threat to our ground water. Look for safer alternatives.
• Toxic products: Ask for alternatives to toxic cleaners, varnishes and paints.
• Film plastic (plastic bags): Only rigid plastic (#1 through 7) are included in the RDKB’s recycling program.

If you are concerned about excess packaging, bring these concerns to the attention of your retailer and take the time to contact the product manufacturer with your comments.

WHAT TO RECYCLE

Visit here to find out what to recycle and where.

COMPOSTING

Why compost you ask? Composters turn yard and kitchen waste into fertilizer, which can be used on your lawn, garden and plants, thus reducing household waste and saving time and money in the long run. To learn more about back yard composting visit the RDKB's resource recovery page by clicking here.

YARD TRIMMINGS

Yard trimmings such as leaves, hedge clippings, brush, branches and grass clippings are collected twice a year, in April during spring clean-up and October during fall clean-up.
• Only organic materials will be picked up
• Use CLEAR bags for leaves & grass clippings
• Bundle & tie tree clippings - branches no longer than 4 feet in length
• Place your materials at your normal garbage pickup location by 7:00 a.m.
• Rocks and heavy bags will not be picked up

The MCKELVEY CREEK LANDFILL SITE in Trail also accepts organic yard waste for a fee.

Nothing will change unless you do Something.

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