Curbside carts

Curbside cart collection

The Central Okanagan uses automated cart collection where an arm on the truck lifts and tips the carts. Each home in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and Electoral Area East is provided a 120 L garbage cart (grey lid), a 240 L yard waste cart (green lid) and a 240 L recycling cart (blue lid).

When are they picked up?

All carts should be at the curb by 7 a.m. on day of collection only

  • Garbage carts are picked up once a week
  • Recycling carts are collected every other week
  • Yard waste carts are picked up every other week from your recycling, from March 1 to December 31

Find your pickup schedule

How to place your curbside cart
  • Carts must be placed outside by 7 a.m. on your collection day
  • Do not put your cart out before your collection day to reduce conflicts with wildlife
  • All material must fit into the carts with the lid closed; no extra materials will be collected
  • If you have extra garbage one week, you are allowed up to two (2) additional garbage bags that have a ‘tag-a-bag' sticker on them
  • Leave 1m (3 ft.) of space between each cart and any obstacles to allow for truck access
  • Place your cart on the street with the wheels against the curb. If there is no curb, place it just off the roadway on the road shoulder, or on your grass. Do not place carts in bike lanes or block sidewalks. Carts must not be in the way of cyclists or pedestrians 

Curbside cart placement on roadways, examples of where to place and where not to place them

Carts in the winter months
  • Place carts at the curb by 7 am
  • Do not place carts behind or on top of snow banks
  • Find or clear an area to put your carts out for collection. It's the responsibility of the resident to clear an appropriate space at the curb/roadway in front of their property for placement of carts
  • Put carts as close to the street as possible without blocking the street, sidewalk or bike lane
  • Place your carts on either side of your driveway, if possible
  • Keep carts off the travelled portion of the roadway so as not to interfere with snow plows
  • The cart should be no closer than 3 feet from any other object, parked vehicle or other cart - an arm's length spacing is required between each cart
  • Clear your cart of snow and ice to ensure the lid opens when the cart is tipped into the truck
  • Keep in mind the automated arm on the collection truck can only reach a maximum of eight feet from the truck, and up to one foot off the ground
  • General Safety: As the waste collection carts are equipped with wheels, please use extra caution when wheeling them in snowy and icy conditions

Missed collection due to snow storms

Large accumulations of snow may delay collection due to poor road conditions. If your collection is missed during a snow event, leave your cart(s) out for collection and they will get picked up as soon as possible. (Do not bring your carts back in until they have been emptied to ensure your collection is not missed).

Cart upgrade information

There are several options for increasing the size of your garbage, recycling and yard waste carts or ordering additional yard waste carts. Changes in cart sizes must be done through your local government. 

City of Kelowna 

Curbside cart change request form or call the City of Kelowna Revenue Department at 250-469-8757

City of West Kelowna

Curbside cart change request form or call the City of West Kelowna Engineering Department at 778-797-8840

District of Lake Country

Curbside cart change request form or call the District of Lake Country Engineering Department at 250-766-6677

District of Peachland

Curbside cart change request form or call the District of Peachland Public Works and Engineering Department at 250-767-2108

Electoral Areas of the Regional District of Central Okanagan

Curbside cart change request form or contact the Regional Waste Reduction Office by email or call 250-469-6250.

If you need extra help with your curbside cart collection due to a medical condition/disability, please fill out an application for service level change form (disability service). Please return the completed form to the Regional District.

Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and West Kelowna customers must contact their municipality for additional help with curbside cart collection.