Starting this week, Central Okanagan residents can recycle even more from home.
As of May 1, 2026, Recycle BC is now managing curbside recycling in the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), including Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and Electoral Areas East and West. With this transition, curbside service expands to include flexible plastics and glass bottles and jars.
This means more materials can now go straight to the curb, making residential recycling easier and more convenient.
New materials accepted at the curb
Flexible plastics are lightweight packaging that can be easily crumpled or folded, including:
- Plastic bags for bread, produce and bulk foods
- Overwrap for toilet paper, paper towels and beverage flats
- Stand-up, zipper-lock pouches for items like granola or dried fruit
- Crinkly wrappers such as cereal liners, chip bags and pasta bags
- Packaging with plastic seals for deli meats and sliced cheese
- Plastic net bags for produce
- Bubble wrap
Glass bottles and jars includes:
- Clear and coloured glass bottles and jars used for condiments, sauces and similar products
These materials have long been accepted at depots, and flexible plastics are also accepted at London Drugs locations. Now, with curbside collection, residents have a more convenient option at home.
How RDCO residents will set out materials
New pink and grey boxes have been delivered to households across the region:
- Pink box: flexible plastics
- Grey box: glass bottles and jars
Collection takes place every two weeks on the same day as your blue-lidded recycling cart.
To prepare for collection:
- Place flexible plastics inside a reused clear plastic bag (such as a bread or produce bag)
- Put the bagged materials in the pink box
- Stack the grey glass box on top of the pink box
- Set both beside your blue-lidded cart at the curb
How to prevent flexible plastics from flying away:
- The grey box is designed smaller to help manage weight and support ease of lifting for residents of all abilities, and also conveniently ‘nests’ into/on top of the pink box to prevent material from being blown away by wind.
- Use the bag in bag method when collecting Flexible Plastics (stuff all flexible plastics in a used bread bag for example and place them open-end down in the pink box).
- ‘Nest’ your grey box on top of/into your larger pink box prior to bringing it outside, before coming into contact with strong winds.
Why are there no lids?
We piloted lid use in 2021 and found it was not practical to implement at scale, particularly when considering the day-to-day realities faced by the drivers we partner with who carry out these demanding collections.
With approximately 67,000 households receiving curbside recycling services in the RDCO, adding an additional manual step, such as handling lids at every stop, can significantly increase collection times. Over the course of a day, this can lead to longer routes, additional trucks on the road, and increased emissions.
To support an efficient and effective system, while also improving convenience for residents through curbside collection, simple alternatives have been introduced. These include the bag-in-bag method for Flexible Plastics and placing the smaller grey box, used for heavier materials like glass, inside the larger pink box to help keep materials secure.
By taking these small steps, we can work together to support a system that operates safely, efficiently, and effectively for all residents.
What else to expect
Environmental 360 Solutions (E360S) continues as the collection contractor under Recycle BC. While the service provider remains the same, some collection days may have changed.
Residents should refer to their new collection calendar and recycling guide for updated schedules and detailed material lists.
Recycling Guide, Accepted Materials List, FAQs, and Address Search
To check your collection day, receive service alerts or learn more about accepted materials, visit RecycleBC.ca/RDCO or download the Recycle BC app.