{"title":"Abbotsford garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","question":"When is garbage collected, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?","slug":"garbage-collection","place":{"path":"ca/bc/abbotsford","name":"Abbotsford","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"garbage-and-recycling","name":"Garbage, recycling and waste"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Abbotsford","url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca"},"short_answer":"The City of Abbotsford collects garbage and recycling every second week, on alternating weeks, and compostables every week. Look up your day by address online or in the app. Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. but not before 5:00 a.m.; extra bags beside the cart are not collected.","aliases":["garbage day abbotsford","garbage pickup abbotsford","recycling schedule abbotsford","garbage cart abbotsford","bear resistant cart abbotsford"],"cost":"2026 annual fee on your property tax notice: $420 with a 240 L garbage cart (and 240 L or smaller compost cart); $403 with a 120 L garbage cart; $483 with a 360 L garbage cart. A 360 L compost cart adds $23. Second compost cart: $173 (240 L) or $238 (360 L). Bear-resistant carts $5 per cart.","how_long":"Garbage and recycling alternate weeks; compostables are weekly. No collection on Saturdays or holidays unless directed.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Collection schedule lookup (by address)","value":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule"},{"type":"online","label":"Recycling, Compost and Garbage (including the Curbside Collection app)","value":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/recycling-compost-garbage"},{"type":"phone","label":"Curbside collection and carts","value":"604-864-5640"},{"type":"email","label":"Waste questions","value":"waste@abbotsford.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Cart requests","value":"carts@abbotsford.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Collection Schedule","url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule"},{"title":"2026 Curbside Cart Collection Guide (PDF)","url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/Curbside%20Cart%20Guide%202026.pdf"},{"title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642)","url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642"}],"related":[{"slug":"yard-waste","title":"Abbotsford yard waste collection and drop-off","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/yard-waste/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Abbotsford bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/mission","name":"Mission","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/garbage-collection/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/garbage-collection/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chilliwack","name":"Chilliwack","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/garbage-collection/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/garbage-collection/"},{"place":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/garbage-collection/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/garbage-collection/"}],"topic":{"title":"Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection/"},"facts":{"frequency":{"label":"How often","value":"Garbage and recycling: every second week, on alternating weeks. Glass (grey bin) is collected with recycling. Compostables (food and yard waste): every week. No collection on Saturdays or holidays unless directed (the day moves ahead under the add-a-day system). For single-family homes, duplexes, rowhouses, small-scale multi-unit housing and manufactured homes outside parks.","short":"Garbage, recycling every other week; compost weekly","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","section":"s. 9, 16","quotes":["(a) every week for the curbside collection of compostables;","(b) alternating weeks for the curbside collection of curbside recyclables and garbage.","The municipal collection service does not operate on a Saturday or a holiday, unless"]},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/recycling-compost-garbage","title":"Recycling, Compost and Garbage, City of Abbotsford","section":"intro","quotes":["The green compost cart is collected weekly, and the blue recycling cart and grey garbage cart are collected every second week on alternating weeks."]},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/Curbside%20Cart%20Guide%202026.pdf","title":"2026 Curbside Cart Collection Guide, City of Abbotsford (PDF)","section":"2026 calendar","quotes":["Recycling and Glass are collected on the days with a square."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"collection_day":{"label":"Finding your day","value":"Enter your address on the City's Collection Schedule page, or use the Abbotsford Curbside Collection app (reminders by email, text or voicemail). East and West collection calendars are on the same page, and a calendar is mailed to homes in early December. Questions: waste@abbotsford.ca or 604-864-5640.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule","title":"Collection Schedule, City of Abbotsford","section":"intro","quotes":["Enter your address below to get your waste collection schedule, or download our Abbotsford Curbside Collection App from the App Store or Google Play.","Your collection schedule is included in the annual curbside collection calendar that is mailed to homes annually in early December for the following year.","please contact us at waste@abbotsford.ca or call 604-864-5640.","Your collection schedule is included in the annual curbside collection calendar that is mailed to homes annually in early December"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"carts":{"label":"Carts","value":"Blue recycling, green compostables and dark grey garbage carts, each in 120 L, 240 L or 360 L (bear-resistant carts 240 L only), plus a 27 L grey glass bin. Only the property owner can request an exchange, once per 12 months, by calling 604-864-5640 or emailing carts@abbotsford.ca; the cart administration fee is $80 per visit. Second carts are available for compostables only.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/carts","title":"Carts, City of Abbotsford","section":"Cart Requests; Cart Information","quotes":["Carts are available in the 120L, 240L, and 360L size for recycling, compost and garbage collection.","Recycling carts are blue, compost carts are green, and garbage carts are dark grey.","Carts can only be exchanged once in a 12-month period for any property.","Cart exchange requests are charged an administration fee of $80 per visit.","please contact us at 604-864-5640 or carts@abbotsford.ca and provide the following information:","Second carts are not available for recycling or garbage, per the Solid Waste Management Bylaw."]},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","section":"s. 1, 24","quotes":["means a plastic container having a size of 27 litres that has been","An owner of a serviced property may request an exchange of one or more collection carts of a different size, other than a bear-resistant cart, once every 12 months."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"set_out":{"label":"Setting carts out","value":"Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day, but not before 5:00 a.m., and bring them in by 8:00 p.m. Place wheels against the curb with the lid arrows pointing to the street, 1 m clear on each side and 3 m clear above, not blocking the road, sidewalk or bike lane. Lids must close.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","section":"s. 18","quotes":["by 7:00 a.m. on a collection day such that","A collection cart or grey bin must not be positioned at a collection point before 5:00 a.m.","A collection cart or grey bin must be moved from a collection point by 8:00 p.m. on a collection day.","there is at least one metre of clearance on each side of the collection cart, and","there is at least 3 metres of clearance above the collection cart."]},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/carts","title":"Carts, City of Abbotsford","section":"Curbside Cart Placement","quotes":["Place wheels against the curb and the arrows on the lid pointing to the street;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits and extra garbage","value":"All material must fit in the cart with the lid closing by its own weight. Overflowing carts and loose or bagged extras beside the cart are not collected; no extra bag or tag program was found. Weight limits: 50 kg (120 L), 110 kg (240 L), 165 kg (360 L). Extra garbage can go to a transfer station for a charge.","short":"Must fit cart, lid closed; no extra-bag tags found","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","section":"s. 33","quotes":["the lid of the collection cart does not close completely by only the weight of the lid,","(i) 50 kg for a collection cart that is 120 litres in size,","(ii) 110 kg for a collection cart that is 240 litres in size, including a collection cart","(iii) 165 kg for a collection cart that is 360 litres in size."]},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/excesswaste","title":"Excess Waste, City of Abbotsford","section":"intro; Extra Garbage","quotes":["Overflowing carts or other loose or bagged material will not be collected.","Garbage that does not fit inside your grey garbage cart can be dropped-off at a number of locations in Abbotsford for a charge."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"2026 basic annual fee: $420 with a 240 L garbage cart (and 240 L or smaller compost cart); $403 with a 120 L garbage cart; $483 with a 360 L garbage cart. A 360 L compost cart adds $23. Second compost cart: $173 (240 L) or $238 (360 L) a year. Bear-resistant carts $5 per cart. Billed on the property tax notice.","short":"$420 a year with 240 L garbage cart","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/property-taxes/tax-solid-waste-rates","title":"Solid Waste Rates, City of Abbotsford","section":"Solid Waste Rates","quotes":["Solid Waste rates are billed annually on the Property Tax Notice.","Rates below are effective as of January 1, 2026","Curbside Collection Fee - $420.00","Additional Compostables Cart Fee- 240 litre cart - $173.00","360 litre cart - $238.00"]},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule L Solid Waste","section":"Schedule L, s. 2-4","quotes":["Note 2: There is an additional fee of $23 for using a 360-litre compostables cart.","Note 3: The basic annual fee is reduced by $17 for using a 120-litre garbage cart and","increased by $63 for the use of a 360-litre garbage cart.","the bear-resistant cart fee is $5 per collection cart."]},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","section":"s. 43, 50","quotes":["is payable by an owner of a serviced property, whether or not","included within the statement and billing of property taxes"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (Bylaw No. 3642-2025); fees are in Schedule L of the Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006 (Bylaw No. 1532-2006)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","section":"title","quotes":["Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025","Bylaw No. 3642-2025"]},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule L Solid Waste","section":"title","quotes":["FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW, 2006 (CONSOLIDATED)","Bylaw No. 1532-2006"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nCurbside service covers single-family homes, duplexes, rowhouses, small-scale multi-unit housing and manufactured homes outside parks. Garbage and recycling are collected every second week, on alternating weeks, with glass (grey bin) collected with recycling. Compostables (food and yard waste) are collected every week. There is no collection on Saturdays or holidays unless directed; the day moves ahead under the add-a-day system. Under [Solid Waste Management Bylaw 3642](<https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642>), apartments, townhouses and residential strata lots are not served by the City unless a strata applies, and use private collection.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Enter your address on the Collection Schedule page, or use the Abbotsford Curbside Collection app (reminders by email, text or voicemail). A calendar is mailed to homes in early December. Questions: waste@abbotsford.ca or 604-864-5640.\n2. Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day, but not before 5:00 a.m., and bring them in by 8:00 p.m.\n3. Place the wheels against the curb with the lid arrows pointing to the street, 1 m clear on each side and 3 m clear above, not blocking the road, sidewalk or bike lane. Lids must close.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Carts:** blue recycling, green compostables and dark grey garbage carts, each in 120 L, 240 L or 360 L (bear-resistant carts 240 L only), plus a 27 L grey glass bin. Only the property owner can request an exchange, once per 12 months, by calling 604-864-5640 or emailing carts@abbotsford.ca. The cart administration fee is $80 per visit. Second carts are available for compostables only.\n- **Limits:** all material must fit in the cart with the lid closing by its own weight. Overflowing carts and loose or bagged extras beside the cart are not collected. No extra bag or tag program was found. Weight limits: 50 kg (120 L), 110 kg (240 L), 165 kg (360 L). Extra garbage can go to a transfer station for a charge.\n- **Bear-resistant carts** must be unlatched by 7:00 a.m. and re-latched by 8:00 p.m.\n- Fees are billed on the property tax notice.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/recycling-compost-garbage","title":"Recycling, Compost and Garbage, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule","title":"Collection Schedule, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/carts","title":"Carts, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/excesswaste","title":"Excess Waste, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/property-taxes/tax-solid-waste-rates","title":"Solid Waste Rates, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/Curbside%20Cart%20Guide%202026.pdf","title":"2026 Curbside Cart Collection Guide, City of Abbotsford (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642","title":"Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule L Solid Waste","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection.json"}}