Yard & Garden Waste

Seasonal Free Tipping

In order to promote property Fire-Smart activity and reduce backyard burning, the RDCK waives the tipping fee for Yard and Garden Waste, for two months every year.

PLEASE NOTE: The free disposal months differ between subregions. Only the EAST Subregion (Creston, Crawford Bay, Boswell) have free yard and garden disposals in APRIL. ALL OTHER areas have their free yard and garden month in MAY.

During the months of May and October (only) the following Resource Recovery Facilities accept Yard & Garden waste for FREE:

• Balfour Transfer Station
• Burton Transfer Station
• Central (Salmo) Transfer Station
• Edgewood Transfer Station
• Grohman Narrows (Nelson) Transfer Station
• Kaslo Transfer Station
• Marblehead Transfer Station
• Nakusp Landfill
• Ootischenia (Castlegar) Landfill
• Rosebery Transfer Station
• Slocan Transfer Station

During the months of April and October (only) the following Resource Recovery Facilities accept Yard & Garden waste for FREE:

• Boswell Transfer Station
• Crawford Bay Transfer Station
• Creston Landfill

What is Yard & Garden Waste?

As per the RDCK’s Resource and Recovery Facilities Regulatory Bylaw, Yard and Garden Waste means biodegradable, organic materials, substance or objects including, but not limited to:

• hedge clippings;
• weeds;
• shrubs;
• shrub and tree branches between 5 – 25 cm (2 – 6″) in diameter.

What is NOT Yard & Garden Waste?

The following items are NOT Yard and Garden Waste, and will be charged their respective tipping fees:

• tree stumps;
• Noxious Weeds;
• plants or growing media that may have been identified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from time to time as infectious or potentially infectious and of which notice has been sent to the RDCK or publicized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency;
• plant and tree material in municipal street sweepings;
• rocks, sand and Waste Soil;
• fruit or vegetable material;
• chipped Wood Waste;
• Plant and/or animal matter, such as food waste, which typically processed through composting.

Notes

• The waived fee is available to residents and businesses, HOWEVER commercial loads and loads greater than 2.5 m3 must be taken to a LANDFILL ONLY. 
• Disposals are limited to one pick-up truck load per customer, per day. Additional loads of Yard and Garden Waste may be charged for disposal. The limit is intended to help site staff manage volumes of material, traffic, and accessibility of this event to all customers.
• All Yard and Garden waste must be secured during transportation, and must be tipped as loose material. ALL BAGS MUST BE EMPTIED AND REMOVED BY THE CUSTOMER.
• Residential loads equivalent to one pick-up truck bed (less than 2.5m3) can be deposited at transfer stations.
• Expect delays and be patient.
• Space at some sites may be limited. Site Staff reserve the right to limit the number of loads disposed by any customer, based on available storage space.

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