• Excess curbside recyclables (cardboard, paper, plastic containers, and metal containers) are accepted at specified City depots and Recycle BC depots.
• Glass, Styrofoam and foam packaging, lightbulbs, and flexible plastics are all items that are accepted at specified Recycle BC depots. Flexible plastics include plastic bags, plastic overwrap on flats of beverages or paper towel rolls, crinkly wrappers (e.g. pasta, chip, candy), zipper lock or stand-up pouches (e.g. dried fruit, nuts, frozen foods), and woven net bags.
• Textiles are very bulky and can be recycled or donated. Find options to discard of unwanted clothing, shoes, towels, blankets, sheets, curtains and more at Kamloops.ca/Textiles.
• Hard and soft cover books can be dropped off at one of four book recycling locations. Find details at Kamloops.ca/BookRecycling.
• Use the organics cart for all food scraps (including meat, bones, and fats) and food-soiled paper. For a complete list of what can go in the organics cart, visit Kamloops.ca/Organics.
• Dispose of household hazardous waste at a new year-round drop-off facility:
  • Take residential loads of paint, aerosol cans, fuel, solvents, cleaners, chemicals, and batteries free of charge to North-Wood Environmental Services at 480 Okanagan Way. Learn more at Kamloops.ca/HHW.

• Cardboard that is not fully broken down is bulky and takes up unnecessary space in the recycling cart. Flatten small boxes and cut or rip large cardboard into magazine-sized pieces. Large cardboard panels can also be taken to a depot.
• Cardboard may be used in the organics cart. Use pieces of cardboard to line the bottom and sides and as layers within the cart. This will help absorb moisture in the cart and will help prevent material from sticking or freezing to the sides.

You can help ensure that more materials are recycled by following these steps:

• Keep your recycling loose. Place materials loose in cart or bin.
• Flatten and cut boxes to fit inside cart or bin (staples and tape are accepted).
• Place shredded paper in a paper bag or cardboard box.
• Empty and rinse containers, and recycle all caps and lids.
• Put metal lids inside cans and squeeze slightly.
• Ensure the seal and coffee grounds are removed before recycling single-use coffee pods. Foil seals can be recycled. Plastic-lined-foil seals cannot be recycled.
• Return deposit beverage containers for a refund (this now includes milk and milk-substitute containers).
• Remove leftover food, plastic liners, and wrap from flats.

Don't forget, you can use the Waste Wise Kamloops app any time to find out what can be recycled and where in Kamloops.

Depending on the season, material may stick or freeze in the organics cart, preventing it from being fully emptied.

Here are some tips to help ensure material stays loose and comes out during collection:

• Cardboard may be used in the organics cart (remove any tape first). Use pieces/panels of cardboard to line the bottom and sides of the cart and as layers within the cart. This will help absorb moisture and will help prevent material from sticking or freezing to the sides.
• Add some dry material, like crumpled newsprint/flyers or dry yard waste, for additional dry layers in the cart.
• Layer food scraps in the kitchen bin with soiled napkins or paper towel to help soak up liquids.
• Wrap wet food scraps in newsprint or put them in paper-based liners before placing in the curbside cart.
• Large paper yard waste bags (available at home and garden centres) may also be used to line the curbside cart.
• Consider pre-freezing food scraps before placing them in the curbside cart on collection day.
• If material gets stuck or frozen, try dislodging with a broom handle or long stick.

When food scraps break down, they release odours that insects and wildlife are attracted to. This natural breakdown happens whether food scraps are in the garbage or organics cart. Insects and wildlife are attracted to these odours.

Here are some simple steps to help minimize odours and reduce the chances of attracting insects, rodents or wildlife: 

• Consider freezing meat scraps and bones until collection day. This will greatly help prevent houseflies from laying their eggs which grow into maggots (the larval stage of housefly development).  
• If freezing is not an option, consider storing meat scraps in a sealed container (e.g. an empty ice cream pail or bucket with sealing lid). On collection day, empty the contents into the organics cart and rinse/reuse, or recycle the container.
• Store your outdoor cart in a garage or shaded area, especially in periods of hot weather, and ensure all carts are inaccessible to wildlife (learn more at Kamloops.ca/BearSmart).
• Layer food scraps in the cart with dry material, such as leaves, dry grass clippings, and dry plant matter, which will help absorb smelly liquids and reduce odour. 
• Sprinkle the bin and cart with baking soda, white vinegar, garden lime (odour neutralizer), or diatomaceous earth (natural absorbent). Garden lime and diatomaceous earth can be purchased at garden centres. 
• Rinse the kitchen bin with soap and water after emptying.
• Additional tips to help prevent fruit flies in the kitchen include rinsing bottles and cans, washing dish cloths regularly, and keeping fruit and vegetables in the fridge. Create a fruit fly trap by putting some apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a jar and sealing the jar with cling film poked with holes.