The District of Invermere is going to begin automated garbage & recycling collection the week of October 4^th, 2020.  Each residence will be provided with one 120L garbage cart and one 240L recycling cart.  Only these District issued carts will be emptied by the new automated truck on collection days.

The collection carts belong to the District and are inventoried and each one assigned to one address.  The carts are marked so that District can be able to track the carts and determines where it belongs if one goes missing.  It will be the resident’s responsibility to keep the cart clean and in good condition.  Each cart has a unique serial number on the side.  It is recommended that you write that number down, so you can then easily identify your cart.

Pick up begins at 8:00 a.m. and the carts must be set up no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on collection day.  Unattended garbage attracts bears and other wildlife.

The automated collection system requires standardized carts for pick up by the mechanical arm. Regular garbage & recycling cans cannot be picked up with the mechanical arm as they are not designed for this purpose. The lids on the standardized carts are designed to be left closed by residents and will open automatically as the cart is dumped.

• Residential households in automated garbage & recycling collection areas have been supplied with a specially designed wheeled garbage & recycling cart.
• On collection day, residents wheel their cart to the front of their residence for collection.
• The automated truck then empties the cart with a mechanical arm.

Automated collection is

• Improved service offerings with real-time information,
• more efficient,
• improved neighbourhood esthetics by keeping the materials contained,
• reduced human-wildlife interactions
• environmentally friendly,
• easy to roll carts
• safer and more economical than manual collection.

The District of Invermere has contracted GFL Environmental Inc. to operate the automated garbage truck that picks up residential garbage & recycling.

• Put your carts on the curb no sooner than 7 a.m. and no later than 8 a.m. on your collection day.
• Face the front of the carts toward the street and the handles towards your house.
• Make sure your carts are an arm’s length apart from one another.
• Make sure the lids on your garbage and recycling carts are closed and locked.
• Place your carts as close to the road as possible without blocking the road or sidewalk.
• Place the carts away from trees or other overhead obstructions.
• Make sure the collection truck can reach your cart.
• Don’t put your carts too close to parked vehicles.
• Make sure material isn’t jammed into your carts or overflowing.
• Don’t use bungee cords or other items to keep the cart lid closed.

Garbage containers will be black and recycling containers will be blue.

Garbage & recycling collection service reliability will improve with the automated system. The automated system allows more efficient collection.

All routes are staying the same and should not change, unless you have been notified.

You will be allowed to fill the new collection cart. There are only two restrictions:

• The lid on your cart must be able to close completely (do not overfill your cart).
• You must restrict the weight so that damage is not caused to the cart by overweight loads.

Yes. The maximum weight load for the cart is 25kg. Please keep in mind that excessive weight in your garbage & recycling cart could result in damage to your cart, this would not be the responsibility of the District.

Research shows that the 120L garbage carts is adequate for most residences, plus it will help encourage proper recycling. The 120L cart will hold an amount of garbage roughly equivalent to what was allowed previously. It is the responsibility of the home owner to take care of any excess solid waste that does not fit in the garbage cart. Using an efficiently sized garbage collection cart helps ensure that less waste ends up in our landfills. It also helps reduce the municipal cost of collection and the regional disposal of waste.

It is the responsibility of the home owner to take care of any excess solid waste that does not fit in the garbage cart. Please use the Transfer Station located at Industrial Rd 1, Athalmer to dispose of extra waste.

All regular household garbage may be placed inside the cart. You can use any kind of garbage bags in a variety of sizes from small to large. Waste must be bagged and tied. This will prevent garbage from becoming airborne as well as help keep your cart cleaner. Anything that is placed inside the cart must be able to fall freely when dumped. Please ensure that you do not stuff the cart tight with garbage.

Pet waste is allowed in the garbage cart, as long as it is double-bagged and securely tied.

Residents will receive a 240L recycling cart. The same rules for recycling will apply with the new automated system.

Please do not bag recycling. No plastic bags are allowed in your recycling carts beginning November 2024. Our Recyclables are now processed through RecycleBC. It is one of their rules that plastic bags must not be put in your recycling cart. These can be taken separately to the Transfer Station located at Industrial Rd 1, Athalmer.

No. Each residence will only be permitted one garbage cart and one recycling cart.

Garbage Collection & Recycling Bylaw No. 1360 requires that all waste must be stored securely until the morning of your waste collection day so as not to attract wildlife. This requirement has not changed. Store your waste and recycling carts in your home, garage or a secured shed.

Here are some ways to prevent odours or conflicts with wildlife:

• Wash your cart out regularly with a mild non-toxic
• Place your garbage into garbage bags inside your
• Keep your cart stored in a location protected from wildlife
• Keep the lid closed at all times.

The collection carts will be inventoried and each one assigned to one address. The carts will be marked, so the District will be able to track the carts and determine where a cart belongs if one goes missing or if carts get mixed up. The carts will belong to the District and will be provided to each residence. It will be the resident’s responsibility to keep the cart clean and in good condition.

The collection carts are designed to withstand all seasons, including our cold winter temperatures. In the event that your cart is damaged, please contact the office for repair or replacement to be arranged. Any associated fee would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, depending upon the cause of the damage.

Please ensure there is 1.2 meter (just over 4 feet) clearance around the cart and that the front of the cart is facing the road (wheel side of the cart toward the house).

Each cart has a unique serial number on the side of the cart. It is recommended that you write that number down, so you can then easily identify your cart.

No, the automated garbage truck cannot work in most alleys. In most locations cart pick up will be from the front street. The collection routes will be reviewed to ensure that efficient service is provided to your residence.

The automated truck is capable of picking up collection carts in close quarters. As a standard, the 1.2-metre (just over 4 feet) rule applies: place your cart 1.2m away from the curb, other carts or a vehicle.

No. A basic 1.2-metre (just over 4 feet) rule will apply: the new collection carts should be placed 1.2m from the curb and other nearby obstacles.

No. However, if your garbage becomes smelly or potentially attracts wildlife, you may want it emptied every week. If you can store your waste safe from wildlife for more than a week, you can place your cart out only when it is full, if you prefer.

No. The lid for the cart needs to be completely closed and locked to be able to be tipped into the truck. Having the lid open, even slightly, allows garbage or recycling to escape either by wind or birds, or encourages animals to get into the garbage.

Automated collection is more efficient, environmentally-friendly and economical than manual collection. In addition, providing standardized carts to all residents improves curbside aesthetics by presenting a cleaner, uniform appearance and provides less opportunity for windblown debris and litter at the curbside. Additionally, the automated trucks serve more homes in a day – which means fewer truck hours on the road and less emissions.

No. Please leave the District-issued cart, in clean condition, at your address. If you are moving to a different address in Invermere, there should be a cart there when you arrive.

Apply for a new cart at the District office during business hours. Once your information is obtained, a collection cart will be assigned and delivered with a set of instructions for the new resident.

• If you currently store your garbage can in a location that is safe from wildlife, that location will also be fine for the new collection cart.
• Most of the items that cause odour in your solid waste are your food scraps and food- soiled
• To reduce odour, many food-soiled containers can be rinsed. (Better yet – check to see if it can be recycled!)
• If you don’t have a secure inside location to store your cart, freeze or keep indoors any material that might attract wildlife and then put it out on collection
• The collection carts have a lid that closes relatively firmly, as long as the cart is not overfilled.
• The lid is to stay closed and locked when the cart is placed out for collection. The lid will open automatically when the truck empties the
• If you live in an area that is frequented by bears, you need to take the required precautions to discourage bears from visiting your garbage cart and to ensure that bears do not have the opportunity to access the contents of your bin.
• Bears are creatures of opportunity and if they know where they can get an easy meal, they will return to the same
• Do not place anything in your garbage that a bear might be able to smell.

Lids should remain closed and locked to prevent animals and birds from entering the container and to avoid rain water from accumulating inside the container. It would also reduce the chance of windblown litter from the container.

Please call the District office and staff will be happy to assist with and answer your questions and concerns.

• When shovelling, clear a flat spot at the end of your driveway or at the curb. Place your carts in this spot.
• Ensure that you set your carts 1.2 m (4 ft.) from the road or curb to allow room for snow clearing equipment to pass
• Place any excess, bagged waste on the ground, approximately four feet away from a cart.
• Don’t place carts behind or on top of snowbanks.
• If a snow plow partially buries your cart, it should still be collected.
• Report any damage caused by snow plows. Damaged carts will be fixed or replaced for free.

The collection cart should be easier to use in the winter than your current standard garbage can. The wheels on the carts are designed to be easily maneuverable through all seasons, including through snow in the winter. If your cart is not overloaded, it should be easy to wheel.

Has your garbage been missed?

If collection of your waste or recycling is missed, please contact GFL Environmental Inc. 250-417-3607 or toll free at 1-800-662-5744

If you have an issue with a missing or damaged cart, please contact the Municipal Office, 250-342-9281