Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | Regional District of North Okanagan

Proactive steps to reduce waste before it happens and putting unwanted items where they belong reduces our landfill footprint. This can contribute significantly to the environmental, economic and social sustainability of our region.

ReTHINK Waste What Goes Where? Organics/Composting Household Hazardous Waste

Read the latest Waste Diversion Newsletter

Packaging & Paper Recycling (Curbside Collection and Depots)

The RDNO does not provide curbside recycling collection services and does not accept blue box recyclables at Diversion & Disposal Facilities.

Residential packaging and paper recycling is managed through a provincial program by Recycle BC. Find information on curbside and depot recycling including: what materials are accepted, how to sort them and a curbside recycling collection calendar:

Recycle BC North Okanagan Recycling Guide

Emterra Environmental is Recycle BC’s contractor in the Regional District of North Okanagan for curbside collection services. They can answer questions about missed pick-ups, obtaining recycling containers, collection zones and holiday schedules.

Contact Emterra Environmental Customer Service:
Phone: 250-545-4245
Email: askmebc2@emterra.ca

What Goes Where?

For information on recycling a wide range of other items including: batteries, beverage containers, electronics, lightbulbs, paint, oil and much more. Check out the What Goes Where Page.

Household Hazardous Waste

A comprehensive Household Hazardous Waste Program for RDNO residents is operated at Interior Recycling located at 4204 24 Ave, Vernon. For more information on what is accepted in this program check out the Household Hazardous Waste Page.

Frequently Asked Questions

A: RDNO residents are encouraged to utilize Recycle BC Curbside Blue Box Collection program or to use Recycle BC Depots located in Vernon and Armstrong. Access a curbside and depot recycling guide at: recyclebc.ca/north-okanagan. Businesses are encouraged to utilize existing programs or to contact private waste management contractors to see what their options are for recycling services. For more information contact the BC Recycling Hotline at 1.800.667.4321 or access the Recyclepedia App at rcbc.ca.
A: The residential blue box recycling program is provided by Recycle BC. Access your Curbside Collection calendar in the Recycle BC – North Okanagan Guide. Garbage collection services are provided by your municipality, please contact your municipality if you require more information about residential garbage collection. If you are a resident of the District of Coldstream or one of the Electoral Areas and wish to receive curbside residential garbage collection, you must engage the services of a private contractor as there is no municipally provided garage collection in these areas.
A: These containers are accepted in the Recycle BC curbside collection program, at Recycle BC depots and at specific Return-It bottle depots. These containers are NOT accepted for recycling at RDNO Diversion & Disposal Facilities. All empty milk, cream, and milk substitute (soy & rice) beverage containers (plastic, cartons, and jugs) are included in this program. Containers should be rinsed and flattened before putting in recycling.
A: Styrofoam packaging is accepted at Recycle BC depots. Styrofoam is not accepted in Recycle BC curbside recycling. Items accepted include clean containers and trays for meat and produce, egg cartons take-out containers, cups and foam cushion packaging to protect electronics, small appliances, etc. Find a participating depot listed under Packaging & Paper Products in the What Goes Where? Guides or search Plastic (Packaging) Foam in RCBC Recyclepedia.
A: Most types of batteries are included in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs and are accepted free-of-charge for drop-off recycling at many locations including participating retailers. Rechargeable and single-use batteries household batteries that weigh up to are 5kgs each are accepted in the call2recycle program, find a participating drop off location and more information on what is accepted at: www.call2recycle.ca. Lead acid batteries are accepted at participating automotive and battery retailers (some pay money for them), find locations at www.recyclemybattery.ca.
A: Almost anything that takes a battery or has a plug can be recycled. View guides on RDNO's What Goes Where? webpage for local depots that accept electronics, small appliances, power tools and outdoor power equipment and more.

A provincial program for electronics accepts computers and peripherals (i.e. mouse, keyboard), monitors, TVs, cell phones, tablets and many more items. For more information on materials accepted in this programs go to www.return-it.ca/electronics.

Small appliances and power tools are accepted at depots participating in the ElectroRecycle Program (categories include: kitchen countertop, floor cleaning, power tools, time and weight measurement, garment care, air treatment, personal care, sewing and textile, exercise equipment, sports and leisure, and very small items). For a complete list of accepted items and to locate a depot near you go online to www.electrorecycle.ca. Note that some items such as treadmills and stationary bikes are considered bulky items in the ElectroRecycle program and have dedicated drop of locations for bulky items.

Battery powered and electric outdoor power equipment are accepted at participating depots of the Outdoor Power Equipment Program. Items accepted include: battery powered and electrical garden shears, trimmers, lawn mowers, power washers and much more. For a complete list of accepted items and participating depots go to www.opeic.ca. Please note that bulky and oversized items are accepted at select locations in this program.
A: Household paint, paint aerosols and paint containers are accepted at designated depots and participating retailers in the Product Care Paint Program. Some locations also participate in an additional program that accepts flammable liquids, domestic pesticides, and gasoline. View guides on RDNO's What Goes Where? webpage for a list of programs and depots accepting Household Chemicals and Automotive products.
A: To better understand all of the drop-off recycling programs that currently exist for North Okanagan residents and businesses, go online to www.bcrecycles.ca. Guides on the RDNO What Goes Where webpage also list all EPR programs, their websites and participating depots. Also, the Recycling Council of BC (RCBC) maintains BC Recyclepedia which is an online search tool for finding recycling and reuse options for a wide range of items including EPR products. This extensive resource can be accessed along with its mobile app at rcbc.ca. Also, RCBC operates a Recycling Hotline at 1-800-667-4321 with Environmental Officers who can provide information on waste reduction and BC EPR programs.
A: In British Columbia, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs require producers (manufacturers, distributors and retailers) to take responsibility for the life cycle of their products, including collection and recycling. The responsibility for recycling varies by product type, with agencies representing industry taking charge of specific categories. Agencies like Recycle BC, Encorp Return-it, and Call2recycle oversee recycling programs for different product types. A full list of agencies and information on products they are responsible for are at: www.bcrecycles.ca.
A: No, taxes do not fund recycling in BC. Recycling is dependent on the private sector to collect, transport and process materials into marketable commodities. The private sector relies on funding through industry-led programs, with costs integrated into product prices or paid as eco-fees when consumers purchase products. The funding collected from purchased products does not go to government, rather it is submitted to the agencies that run recycling programs (a full list of these funded agencies that are responsible for recycling is at: www.bcrecycles.ca).
The organization who was running Venture Bottle Depot in Lumby had to make a difficult decision for their organization close the depot and sell the building in August 2023. The RDNO was not involved in the operations of this depot. The RDNO has inquired with the agencies who had provincial recycling programs operating at the depot and they have advised they are working to find solutions to fill this gap in the community. Until this time residents with curbside Recycle BC service are encouraged to optimize their use of that program for curbside packaging and paper recyclables (find info at: https://recyclebc.ca/north-okanagan/). The next nearest centre with depots that operate provincial recycling programs is in Vernon and information can be found at: www.rdno.ca/whatgoeswhere.