Have you ever hesitated before putting an item in your garbage can and wondered, “Can I recycle this?”

The City of Courtenay has launched a new tool that will help you find the answer, along with schedule information for household garbage, yard waste, and recycling collection.

Courtenay Collects is a mobile and web app customized for waste and recycling services for City of Courtenay residents.

Residents can look up material in the “What Goes Where?” waste wizard feature to determine if it is recyclable, reusable or waste, and where it is accepted, i.e. at curbside, local depots, reuse facilities, or landfills. Can’t find an item in the list? The app includes a suggestions feature so residents can recommend items to include in the waste wizard.

The collection calendar allows residents to view their collection schedule, sign up for collection day reminders, and be notified of any service changes due to inclement weather, holidays, truck issues, or route changes.

Kyle Shaw, the City of Courtenay’s Manager of Transportation and Utilities, said the aim is to reduce contamination in curbside blue bins and provide better information to Courtenay residents about their curbside waste collection services.

“This new app has a lot of features, and we’re excited to help residents take the guesswork out of sorting their recycling,” noted Shaw. “This will be a one-stop-shop for Courtenay residents looking for recycling information.

“We’re also looking forward to having the ability to issue service alerts,” added Shaw. “If our contractor needs to change the collection schedule due to major snowfalls or other events, this new app will help us get the word out when the time comes.”

Find the “Courtenay Collects” web app on the City website at www.courtenay.ca/recycling and as a smartphone app available free of charge for download from Google Play and the Apple Store.

For more information, call City of Courtenay Public Works Services at 250-338-1525 or email publicworks@courtenay.ca