Missed Collections & Severe Weather
Most homes are served by multiple trucks, with glass, recycling, garbage, and compostables trucks arriving at different times to pick up different materials.
Collections start at 7:00am and crews have until 5:00pm to finish collections, unless severe weather or other unforeseen disruptions cause collection delays.
To help ensure your materials are collected, please:
- Set your materials out by 7:00am
- Use appropriate containers with lids and handles
- Ensure your materials are properly sorted
- Ensure your materials are placed within 2m/6.5ft of the curb
- Do not exceed the allowable container/bag weight and size limits listed in the Curbside Collection Guide
- Place Tag-a-Bag stickers on over limit containers/bags of garbage or yard waste
- Ensure "We Recycle" decals on recycling containers are visible to crews
- Ensure materials are not hidden behind a vehicle, hedge, etc.
- Check your cans/bags for an "Information Tag", which may explain why materials could not be collected.
- If there is no tag, please call Emterra at 604.795.7795, email [email protected] or use the "Report a Problem" feature in the Chilliwack Curbside Collection App.
The curbside contractor makes every effort to perform collections, but there may be times when severe weather prevents collection. Waste collection is important, but the safety of people and property comes first.
If areas are unable to be safely accessed, customers will be notified through the Curbside Collection App and information posted on our main Curbside Program webpage. If possible, a make-up collection may be arranged.
Customers who do not receive service (e.g. if a make-up collection isn't possible) will be allowed to place up to twice their normal limit of materials at the curb the following regular collection day. In this case, the collection of extra materials will be free of charge and no Tag-a-Bag stickers will be needed.
To keep your lid and bin together and prevent wet, heavy material try these ‘Windy Season’ tips:
- Consider holding over materials until the next collection if possible.
- Place garbage out in bags only - once bins are emptied they can easily be blown away. Wait until the morning to place out bags to prevent animals accessiing materials. Please do not use bags for recycling.
- Write your address on garbage/recycling cans and lids. Green Carts are assigned to your home through serial numbers on the side. Please don't mark up Green Carts.
- Place a peice of 2x4 on the underside of your lid to add weight. Install screws with washers through the top down and into the 2x4. Please do not attach the lid to your containers as it hinders servicing.
- Live in a windy rural area? Consider building a can corral or using a modified wagon that allows easy transport from home. A simple corral consists of four posts and a set horizontals rails. Containers will be serviced from and returned to a corral.
- Always have your cart out by 7 a.m. as weather conditions, truck maintenance, and other unforeseen events can lead to route changes.
- Ensure a path is snow and ice free from the road to your materials, and that cart placement will not interfere with snow plows or other vehicles.
- Carts placed behind or on top of snow banks will not be collected. Place your carts at the curb/alley in an area free of snow accumulation such as the flat area at the end of your driveway.
- Loosen Green Cart contents or line your cart with newspaper to prevent materials from freezing to the sides of the cart, which can prevent carts from being emptied. Placing your Green Cart in a sunny location can also help prevent materials freezing to the cart sides.
- Remove any snow and ice off the lids of your containers before placing at the curb to prevent lids from being frozen shut. Unlock your Green Cart.
- When there is snow on the ground, pulling your cart will likely be easier than pushing it.