---
title: "Abbotsford garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Abbotsford
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Abbotsford garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

**Question:** When is garbage collected, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Abbotsford, https://www.abbotsford.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: Collection schedule lookup (by address), https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule
- Online: Recycling, Compost and Garbage (including the Curbside Collection app), https://www.abbotsford.ca/recycling-compost-garbage
- Phone: Curbside collection and carts, 604-864-5640
- Email: Waste questions, waste@abbotsford.ca
- Email: Cart requests, carts@abbotsford.ca

## Key facts

- **How often:** 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.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025), s. 9, 16](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)
  - Official wording: "(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"
  - Source: [Recycling, Compost and Garbage, intro](https://www.abbotsford.ca/recycling-compost-garbage)
  - Official wording: "The green compost cart is collected weekly, and the blue recycling cart and grey garbage cart are collected every second week on alternating weeks."
  - Source: [2026 Curbside Cart Collection Guide, 2026 calendar](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/Curbside%20Cart%20Guide%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Recycling and Glass are collected on the days with a square."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** 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.
  - Source: [Collection Schedule, intro](https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **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.
  - Source: [Carts, Cart Requests; Cart Information](https://www.abbotsford.ca/carts)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025), s. 1, 24](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** 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.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025), s. 18](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Carts, Curbside Cart Placement](https://www.abbotsford.ca/carts)
  - Official wording: "Place wheels against the curb and the arrows on the lid pointing to the street;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** 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.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025), s. 33](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Excess Waste, intro; Extra Garbage](https://www.abbotsford.ca/excesswaste)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** 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.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Rates](https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/property-taxes/tax-solid-waste-rates)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule L Solid Waste, Schedule L, s. 2-4](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025), s. 43, 50](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)
  - Official wording: "is payable by an owner of a serviced property, whether or not" … "included within the statement and billing of property taxes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** 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)
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025), title](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)
  - Official wording: "Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025" … "Bylaw No. 3642-2025"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule L Solid Waste, title](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532)
  - Official wording: "FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW, 2006 (CONSOLIDATED)" … "Bylaw No. 1532-2006"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Curbside 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.

## Steps

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

## Good to know

- **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.
- **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.
- **Bear-resistant carts** must be unlatched by 7:00 a.m. and re-latched by 8:00 p.m.
- Fees are billed on the property tax notice.

## Official forms and pages

- [Collection Schedule](https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule)
- [2026 Curbside Cart Collection Guide (PDF)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/Curbside%20Cart%20Guide%202026.pdf)
- [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/yard-waste.md)
- [Abbotsford bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/garbage-collection.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/garbage-collection.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/garbage-collection.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/garbage-collection.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/garbage-collection.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Recycling, Compost and Garbage, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/recycling-compost-garbage) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Collection Schedule, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/collection-schedule) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Carts, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/carts) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Excess Waste, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/excesswaste) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Rates, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/property-taxes/tax-solid-waste-rates) (read 2026-11-05)
- [2026 Curbside Cart Collection Guide, City of Abbotsford (PDF)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-11/Curbside%20Cart%20Guide%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Management Bylaw, 2025 (No. 3642-2025)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2025b3642) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2006, Schedule L Solid Waste](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1532) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Abbotsford. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/garbage-collection/_