Can't keep track of what day to put out your garbage after a holiday? Want to know in moments where you can recycle that old television set you've been carting around in your back seat?
Now there's an app for that from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.
The regional district, in conjunction with the city of Prince George, has launched a new smartphone application with information on waste disposal options in the region. The app is in addition to the online and printed materials available about solid waste.
My-Waste is available for iPhone and Android device users, offering a full spectrum of advice on where household items can be taken for recycling, garbage pickup schedules and the location of stewardship programs offered in the region.
The city's solid waste supervisor Chris Bjorn said the city was happy with the partnership. "You will no longer lose track of your garbage collection date again, as My-Waste reminds you in advance of all collection days; or you can choose to receive alerts only when there are changes to your collection schedule due to a holiday."
According to regional district waste diversion program leader Rachael Ryder, mobile applications are gaining traction in the industry.
"Whenever you go to any of the recycling conferences, that is the big push - technology and the fact that it is the fastest growing medium to get information out to the public," she said. "Fifty per cent of cell phone users have smartphones. And mobile technology is the fastest growing industry on earth."
Residents can download the app for free by following links on the websites for both the regional district (www.rdffg.bc.ca) and the city (www.princegeorge.ca).
Once acquired, users can choose their area of residence (Prince George, McBride, Valemount, Mackenzie or one of the seven electoral areas) to get specific information. The four member municipalities have access to garbage pick up schedules and alerts, which don't apply to the electoral areas without curbside collection.
"It's just nice to have something that is specific to our region and it's at people's fingertips," Ryder said. "So if they're looking for information maybe when our office is closed or don't want to have to peruse our whole website, it gives them fairly quick access to information."
