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Waste Collection

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.

2024 Spring Clean-Up

Giveaway Weekend: May 24th & 25th, 2024

Place gently used household items on the boulevard in front of your home, and then take a cruise around town to see if someone else’s gently used items are just what you were looking for! You are responsible for cleaning up any items that are left behind by no later than 7 am on Monday, May 27th. If it could still be used by someone else, it does not belong in the landfill.

If you have gently used items, but don’t want to place them to the curb, consider holding a garage sale, donating them to a local charity, or posting them online for giveaway in the Buy Nothing Altona, MB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839055329696639/

Curbside Branch Collection: May 30th and 31st, 2024

If you are unable to take branches to the Yard Waste Disposal Site yourself, you can place branches in a neat stack on the boulevard, parallel to the curb by no later than 7 am on May 30th and 31st for our Public Works team to collect and take to the Yard Waste Disposal Site.

Waste Drop-Off: May 27th – June 1st, 2024

Monday to Friday, 8 am – 8 pm & Saturday, 8 am – 4 pm at the Altona/Rhineland Waste Disposal Site

Spring Clean-Up will be held at the Altona/Rhineland Waste Disposal Site. The Waste Disposal Site is located 3 miles North of the intersection of Centre Ave & Highway 30, 1.5 miles East. All loads must be covered and secured. 

All Altona residents will be required to show proof of residency to use this waste drop-off for free during May 27th – June 1st. Proof of Altona residency includes: the “Waste Drop-Off Pass” located on the flyer that Altona residents will receive in the mail, or a valid ID showing your Altona address.

The following items are diverted from the landfill by using the Waste Diversion Loop, Used Oil Recycling Depot, and Yard Waste Drop-Off Site:

-    Mattresses and box springs

-    Large metal appliances such as a fridge, freezer, washing machine, etc. Not including dishwashers

-    Scrap metal

-    Propane tanks

-    Batteries (large)*

-    Tires

-    Automobile oil

-    Oil filters

-    Coolant

-    Consumer DEF Containers (4L)

-    Used cooking oil

-    Branches & yard waste

These services are available all year round for your use, but during this Spring Clean-Up, our team will be on hand to help you understand where your items go. 

If you have items that cannot be diverted from the landfill, residents of Altona may drop off that waste, free of charge during Spring Clean-Up, when you show this page to the scale operator. If your non-divertible waste fits in a regular garbage bag under 50 lbs, excess garbage bag tags for curbside collection are available at the Civic Centre for $2/tag. 

As always, renovation, construction waste, shingles, and ashes are excluded from Spring Clean-Up. If you are dropping off those items, you will need to pay the relevant tipping fees. 


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 through March, compostable materials are collected MONTHLY on the first scheduled collection day of the month.

Southeast: Tuesday, Southwest: Wednesday, Northwest: Thursday, Northeast: Friday

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

2024 Waste Collection Calendar

Waste Collection Program Brochure

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.

Sun Valley Co-op Home Store
142 Centre Ave E, Altona
204-324-6428
Drop Off Site for paint and paint cans, fluorescent lights/bulbs, and aerosols

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