Vancouver Garbage & Recycling

The City of Vancouver provides curbside waste collection including garbage, recycling, food scraps, and yard waste through municipal sanitation services.

Your Standard Curbside Service (Most Houses)

Single-family homes and duplexes receive cart-based collection.

What you get

When you move in, the property typically includes:

♻️ 1 recycling cart or blue boxes
🟢 1 green bin (organics)
🗑️ 1 garbage bin

Containers belong to the property.

Contact the City if containers are missing.

Collection Schedule

Collection occurs weekly but varies by material:

• Garbage — every 2 weeks

• Recycling — weekly

• Food scraps/organics — weekly

Bins must be placed out by 7:00 a.m.

Recycling Program

Vancouver uses a single-stream recycling system.

Accepted items

• Paper and cardboard

• Plastic containers

• Glass bottles and jars

• Metal containers

Quick tips

• Keep recyclables loose

• Clean containers lightly

• No plastic bags

Residents can use the city’s “Recycle BC” search tool.

Garbage Collection

Garbage pickup occurs every two weeks to encourage waste reduction.

Garbage rules:

• Bag garbage securely

• Lid must close completely

• Extra garbage requires tags or special pickup

Yard Waste Collection (Seasonal)

Yard waste is collected alongside food scraps.

Accepted yard waste

• Leaves and grass

• Plants and garden waste

• Small branches

Use compostable bags or reusable containers only.

Large Items & Special Waste

Large Item Pickup

Large items like mattresses, furniture, and appliances aren’t reusable and can be taken to the Zero Waste Cente or the landfill. Fees may apply.

Recycling & Zero Waste Centres

Drop-off locations accept:

• Electronics

• Paint and chemicals

• Appliances

• Construction materials

Compost & Food Waste

Vancouver has a mandatory Green Bin compost program.

Accepted items include:

• Food scraps

• Meat and dairy

• Coffee grounds

• Food-soiled paper

Food waste is banned from garbage disposal.

How You Pay for It

Waste collection fees are included within property taxes or city utility billing depending on property type.

Charges are municipal service fees rather than pay-per-use.