Submitted by City of Castlegar
The City of Castlegar is reminding residents that open burning of yard and garden waste is prohibited within the city.
With the weather warming up, residents are cleaning up their yards and some people are burning the refuge.
The City of Castlegar’s Open Burning Bylaw does not allow the burning of yard waste, garbage, construction or demolition material at any time.
The city can issue $500 fines for burning yard waste.
City residents have two options for grass, lawn and hedge clippings, flowers, weeds, leaves, vegetable stalks, shrubs, and branches — curbside collection and the composting facility.
Curbside yard waste will be collected on May 25 in north Castlegar and on May 26 in south Castlegar.
Yard waste bags are available free of charge from City Hall and Civic Works. Residents are asked to only take one bunch of bags per household.
Bags must be tied off with compostable twine. Garbage cans with lids may be used as long as the containers are identified as having yard waste inside and weigh no more than 23 kg per container. Tree prunings must be bundled with compostable twine. Individual bundles can be no longer than one metre in length and 0.5 metre in diameter. Maximum allowable branch diameter is 75 mm. Non-compostable bags will not be accepted.
The second option is to use the city’s yard waste composting facility at the north end of the Castlegar & District Recreation Complex at 2101 Sixth Avenue.
The city asks that residents ensure they follow all COVID-19 guidelines when visiting the facility.
Open Burning Bylaw
Consideration may be granted for the fire smarting of difficult-to-access properties; however, site visits and permits are required in these instances.
The Open Burning Bylaw does not apply to campfires on private property.
Campfires must be:
• Contained and no larger than one metre wide by one metre long by one metre high
• Burning only clean, dry campfire wood (no demolition, construction, garbage, yard, garden, grass, leaves)
• A safe distance away from structures, fences, overhangs including trees as well as city easements or utility right of ways
For more information visit the city’s website at castlegar.ca or call 250-367-7227.
Castlegar byelection coverage:
Q&A with the Castlegar mayor candidates
Q&A with the Castlegar council candidates
newsroom@castlegarnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter