Photo: RDOS

Spring cleaning is underway at many South Okanagan households, and garbage crews are holding bulky item collections in the coming weeks.

Penticton residents can put out two large items during the week of April 1-5 on regular garbage days. Items must be left at the usual collection points by 7 a.m., with one metre of space between regulars carts and oversized items.  

Accepted items include furniture, appliances (such as refrigerators, stoves), exercise equipment and mattresses. The maximum allowable weight per item is 90 kg.

Items with gas motors, televisions, hot water tanks and renovation waste such as toilets, plumbing fixtures and doors will not be collected.

“The large and bulky item collection event helps residents get their unwanted furniture or broken appliance to the landfill for disposal or recycling,” said David Kassian, community sustainability coordinator. “On your regular garbage day, place the items at your usual collection point and we will make sure they get disposed of properly.”

Oversized item collection will take place at varying times through the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen from March 29 to April 8.

What is collected can vary in different municipalities, such as the Town of Osoyoos. Municipal residents should check with their collection calendar for what can be collected and when the collection will take place. The RDOS kicks off collection in the Village of Keremeos and Electoral Areas ‘B’ and ‘G’ on Friday March 29th. Electoral Areas ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘I’ receive pickup on their normal collection day during the week of April 8th to 11th.