The Town of Altona has a three-stream Waste Collection program that runs year-round. This program is intended to encourage waste diversion and supports Altona’s commitment towards responsible environmental stewardship. Keep scrolling for more information on each waste stream.

Curbside Collection

All waste must be brought to the curb by no later than 7 am on your designated collection day. The Town of Altona is divided into four areas for the regular collection schedule. 

Please note: From November to March, compostable materials will be collected once a month during the first full collection week. Collection will take place on your regular collection day. 

Occasionally, there will be changes to this schedule due to holidays. Please see the current waste collection calendar below for more information.

2025 Waste Collection Calendar

2024 Waste Collection Calendar 

Waste Collection Program Brochure

Holiday Waste Collection Schedule

Monthly Compost Collection: January 7 - 10, 2025
Christmas Tree Pickup: January 15, 2025

Limits:

Compostable Materials: There is no limit to the amount of compost that can be put out for collection per week. All materials should be placed in: green compost cart (up to 130 lbs), containers with molded handles without lids (up to 50 lbs/container), or compostable bags (up to 35 lbs/bag).

Recycling: There is no limit to the amount of recyclables that can be put out for collection per week. All materials should be placed in: blue recycling cart, and any container that is clearly marked as recycling.

Garbage: Residential dwellings are allowed ONE (1) garbage bag or container (30 gallons/ 114 Litres) per week.

Any bags above this limit must have a garbage bag tag, which are available for purchase at the Altona Civic Centre for $2/tag. All bags/containers must weigh less than 50 lbs.

Compostable Materials

How to Fold Newspaper Into a Compost Bin Liner

What goes in the green bin?

Almost anything that once came from a plant or an animal can be composted. Here is a list of some common household items that should be put into your green bin:

• All food scraps, including meat and dairy, egg shells, and bones
• Food soiled paper products, such as pizza boxes, butcher paper, coffee filters, parchment paper, muffin liners, plates & napkins, bags & microwave popcorn bags, sugar/sweetener packets, tea bags, and more
• Other paper products, such as shredded paper
• Personal hygiene items such as facial tissues, hair, cotton balls, cotton swabs, nail clippings
• Fur and feathers
• Wood chips, toothpicks, popsicle sticks pencil shavings, sawdust
• Houseplants and flowers
•  Yard waste
•  Compostable bags/bin liners

What can’t go in the green bin?

This is a list of items to avoid putting in your green bin. Your green bin will not be emptied if it contains these items:

• Recyclable materials
• Plastic and glass
• Aluminum foil and other metal
• Chemically soiled paper products
• Styrofoam
• Waxed paper, wax, and candles
• Pet waste (litter, droppings, etc.)
• Chewing gum, cigarette butts & ashes
• Cleaning sponges & wipes
• Personal hygiene items such as band-aids, sanitary products, dental floss, baby wipes, or diapers
• Batteries, paint, or other hazardous waste
• Water softener salt
• Wood and treated wood
• Branches* (see Waste Diversion)

Keeping Your Compost Bin Fresh

•  Empty your indoor bin often and rinse each time. Once in a while, wash your indoor bin with soap, or run it through your dishwasher.
• Place newspaper/paper at the bottom of your outdoor bin to absorb excess moisture
• Line your compost containers with compostable liners, available at local retailers such as Altona Farm Service, Altona IGA, Home Hardware, and Sun Valley Co-op.
• Bring your outdoor bin to the curb every collection day
• Sprinkle baking soda over the compost if you find it has started to smell
• Freeze meat scraps in a paper bag until collection day

If the green bin has non-compostable items in it, it WILL NOT be collected.

Recycling

What goes in the blue bin?

• Aluminum Beverage Cans
• Box Board
• Bubble Wrap
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Glass, Ceramic and Porcelain
• Jugs & Cartons
• Paper
• Plastics #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 7
• Plastic Bags/Soft Plastics (must be bundled together)
• Cell phones & Batteries (must be bagged separately from other recyclables)

Separate all lids and containers, rinse containers, fold/flatten cardboard, bundle soft plastics together, and bag any cell phones or batteries.

What can’t go in the blue bin?

• E-waste (24/7 drop-off depot)
• Automotive batteries
• Biohazard & Medical Waste
• Chemical Waste/Containers
• Diapers
• Food-soiled Paper Products
• Hard/Shattering Plastics
• Laminated Materials
• Light Bulbs
• Mirrors & Window Glass
• Outdoor Lawn Furniture
• Plasticized/Waxed Materials
• Propane or Helium Tanks
• Rubber Tires
• Styrofoam
• Toner or Printer Ink Cartridges

If the blue bin has non-recyclable items in it, it WILL NOT be collected.

Garbage

What goes in the garbage?
Only those items that cannot go into the compost or recycling carts. Here are some examples: diapers, Styrofoam, chemically soiled paper products, metallic or waxy paper, staples, tape, foil, etc.

What can’t go in the garbage?
Compostable or recyclable materials, e-waste, paint cans, fluorescent light tubes, aerosols, tires, mattresses, propane tanks, batteries, appliances, automobile oil, oil filters, coolant, and used cooking oil.

All of the items that cannot go into your garbage have alternative drop off locations or collection streams. See Waste Diversion to learn more. Each household is limited to one bag of garbage per week. If you need an additional bag, you may purchase a garbage bag tag for $2 at the Altona Civic Centre Administration Office. Any bags beyond the one bag limit must be clearly marked with a garbage bag tag, or they will not be collected.

Waste Diversion

Altona/Rhineland Waste Disposal Site
2049 Rd 10 NW, Rhineland
204-324-1379
Open: Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 4 pm

Waste Diversion Loop
When you enter the Waste Disposal Site, turn left into the Waste Diversion Loop before you reach the scale to drop off the following items, free of charge. Please follow the appropriate signage.

• Mattresses and box springs
• Large metal appliances (fridge, freezer, etc). Does not include dishwashers
• Scrap metal
• Propane tanks
• Batteries (large)*
• Tires

Used Oil Recycling Depot
At the Waste Disposal Site, turn right before the scale to access the Used Oil Recycling Depot, free of charge. To use, ask for assistance from the scale operator.

• Automobile oil
• Oil filters
• Coolant
• Consumer DEF Containers (4L)
• Used cooking oil

Yard Waste Disposal Site
West of the Altona/Rhineland Waste Disposal Site
This location is available for drop off of yard waste or branches, free of charge. Please do not drop off food waste at the yard waste disposal site.

*Household Battery Recycling
Household batteries can be dropped off to the Altona Civic Centre, Public Works Shop or Blue Sky Opportunities, or sealed in a bag within your blue bin.

Paint Recycling/Disposal
Leftover paint products or empty containers can be dropped off at the Altona/Rhineland Waste Disposal Site. Visit our Waste Disposal Site webpage for more information about paint recycling and what types of products are accepted.

Why should you recycle paint? Leftover paint can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly, as it is classified as special waste. By recycling your unwanted paint and paint cans at our facility, you can reduce landfill waste and minimize environmental impact.

Blue Sky Opportunities
349 2nd St NW, Altona
Drop Off Site for household E-Waste

• Computer monitors (CRT and flat panel display types)
• TV’s
• Desktop computers (CPU’s, hard drives, mice, keyboards and cables)
• Laptops
• Desktop printers
• DVD players/VCR’s/Stereos
• Phones/cell phones
• Scanners/copiers/fax machines
• Rechargeable batteries
• Microwaves