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

# Cranbrook 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 Cranbrook collects household garbage weekly from one City-supplied 240 L cart. The City page says to have it at the curb by 7:30 a.m. (the bylaw says 7:00 a.m.). Extra garbage, bulky items and building waste are not collected; take them to the Cranbrook Transfer Station.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Cranbrook, https://www.cranbrook.ca)  
**Cost:** From January 1, 2026, per dwelling unit: collection fee $10.50 a month plus landfill fee $12.00 a month, billed three times a year. A 5% discount applies if the whole year is paid by April 30.  
**How long:** Garbage weekly, recycling every two weeks. Look up your own day by address on the City's page.  
**Where:**
- Online: Garbage and Recycling page (address lookup, schedules and zone map), https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup
- Phone: City of Cranbrook 311 (cart or collection questions), 250-426-4211 (Or call 311, or use the 311 app.)

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage is collected weekly and recycling every two weeks. The bylaw guarantees garbage collection four times a month at no more than 8-day intervals and recycling twice a month at no more than 14-day intervals. No curbside organics collection is mentioned. After a weekday statutory holiday the collection day moves ahead one day (Add-A-Day).
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Curbside Recycling FAQ](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup)
  - Official wording: "Curbside garbage collection will be completed weekly. Recycling will be collected bi-weekly." … "After each statutory holiday that falls on a weekday (Monday - Friday), your scheduled collection day will advance by one day."
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025), ss. 9.1, 9.2](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)
  - Official wording: "The City shall provide Solid Waste collection four times per calendar month at a" … "maximum of 8 (eight) day intervals." … "maximum of fourteen (14) day intervals."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Enter your address in the Collection Schedule search on the City's Garbage & Recycling page (2026 and 2027 schedules and a zone map are posted), subscribe to your pickup calendar, or use the 311 app or call 311 / 250-426-4211.
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, Garbage & Recycling page](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup)
  - Official wording: "2027 Garbage & Recycling Collection Schedule & Map **Available Now" … "Forgotten which zone you live in? Download the zone map below." … "Subscribe to your Pickup Calendar" … "use the 311 app or our website www.cranbrook.ca/recycling to check your collection schedule."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** Each home gets one 240 L garbage cart and one 240 L recycling cart; a smaller 120 L garbage cart can be requested through the 311 app or by calling 311. Carts belong to the City and stay with the property. Exchanging garbage cart sizes costs the fee in Schedule A. A lost or neglected recycling cart is $75 to replace.
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, FAQ: Carts](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup)
  - Official wording: "Both the garbage and recycling cart is 240L. Residents may request a smaller, 120L cart" … "The City will own and be responsible for the maintenance of the carts." … "Replacement costs are charged against the property at $75."
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025), ss. 16.1-16.3; Schedule A s. 3](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)
  - Official wording: "Each Dwelling Unit will be provided one (1), two hundred forty (240) litre Garbage" … "An Owner may exchange a Garbage Cart to another sized cart by paying the cart" … "Cart Replacement – If a Recycling Cart is stolen or damaged due to the neglect"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** The City page says carts must be at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on collection day. The bylaw says carts must be kept readily accessible for emptying between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and removed within 12 hours after emptying. Place carts within 1 m of the road or lane (or back of sidewalk), 1 m apart from each other and obstacles. In winter, place behind the curb, clear of the sidewalk, 3 ft from snowbanks. (Sources differ: Conflict in start time: the City page says 7:30 a.m.; the bylaw says carts must be accessible from 7:00 a.m. The page also warns the truck may come any time from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a cart put out after the truck passes is a missed collection. Put carts out only when full or near full.)
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, FAQ: Cart Placement](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup)
  - Official wording: "Your garbage and recycling carts need to be at the curb for 7:30 a.m. on their respective collection days." … "Do not place garbage or recycling carts on the snowbank(s) as they will not be collected." … "Leave 1m (~3ft) of space around your cart"
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025), ss. 10.1, 18.3](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)
  - Official wording: "kept, maintained and readily accessible" … "for emptying between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the day of collection." … "within twelve (12) hours of collection." … "Garbage Carts must also be placed one (1) meter from one another or another obstacle."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** Anything that fits inside the cart is collected; the bylaw bars overloading past the manufacturer's weight limit. Extra garbage beyond the 240 L cart must be taken to the Cranbrook Transfer Station by the resident. Not collected: building waste, stones, earth, manure, stumps, roots, turf, flammable or hazardous materials and bulky items. No extra-bag tags are mentioned.
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, FAQ: Limits](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup)
  - Official wording: "As long as it fits inside your garbage or recycling cart, the material will be collected." … "Additional garbage in excess of the 240 litres must be disposed of at the Cranbrook Transfer Station" … "Bulky items."
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025), ss. 13.2, 15.1](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)
  - Official wording: "to exceed the manufacturer’s weight limit or to be overloaded such" … "Trade Refuse, stones, earth, manure, excrement, night soil, tree stumps, roots," … "Bulky Items."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Per dwelling unit, from January 1, 2026: collection fee $10.50 a month plus landfill fee $12.00 a month. Billed three times a year (end of March, July and November); a 5% discount applies if the whole year is paid by April 30. Collection is mandatory for single-family homes.
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025), Schedule A (effective Jan 1, 2026); ss. 28.1-28.4](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)
  - Official wording: "MONTHLY FLAT CHARGES/ RATES" … "1.1 For those Dwelling Units listed under section 4. $10.50" … "2.1 For each Dwelling Unit (including each Dwelling Unit within multi-family" … "$12.00" … "prepaid by April 30th for the whole of the then current year, are subject to a five percent (5%) discount."
  - Source: [Frequently asked questions, FAQ](https://www.cranbrook.ca/faqs)
  - Official wording: "Utilities are billed three (3) times per year and arrive at the end of March, July, and November annually."
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, FAQ: Basics](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup)
  - Official wording: "curbside collection service (both garbage and recycling) is a mandatory service for all City of Cranbrook single family dwelling units"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024
  - Source: [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025), s. 1.1](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)
  - Official wording: "Disposal Bylaw No.4145, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Cranbrook gives each home one 240 L garbage cart and one 240 L recycling cart; a smaller 120 L garbage cart can be requested through the 311 app or by calling 311. The carts belong to the City and stay with the property. Under [Bylaw 4145](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358), garbage is collected at least four times a month and recycling twice a month. After a weekday statutory holiday the collection day moves ahead one day. No curbside organics collection is mentioned.

## Steps

1. Enter your address in the Collection Schedule search on the City's Garbage and Recycling page, or subscribe to your pickup calendar. You can also use the 311 app or call 311 or 250-426-4211.
2. Put out your cart. The City page says it must be at the curb by 7:30 a.m., and the truck may come any time from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Place it within 1 m of the road or lane, and 1 m from other carts and obstacles. In winter, place it behind the curb, clear of the sidewalk, 3 ft from snowbanks.
4. Bring it back within 12 hours after it is emptied.

## Good to know

- Start time: the bylaw says carts must be accessible for emptying between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., while the City page says 7:30 a.m. Put it out by 7:00 a.m. to be safe. A cart put out after the truck passes is a missed collection.
- Anything that fits in the cart is collected, but not past the cart's weight limit. Extra garbage must be taken to the Cranbrook Transfer Station by the resident. No extra-bag tags are mentioned.
- Not collected: building waste, stones, earth, manure, stumps, roots, turf, flammable or hazardous materials, and bulky items such as furniture, large appliances, carpet and mattresses.
- A lost or neglected recycling cart costs $75 to replace. A free additional cart is available for medical need.
- Multi-family buildings over six units (garbage) or four units (recycling) arrange their own service.
- Unpaid amounts at the end of a billing period get 2% added.

## Official forms and pages

- [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw 4145, 2024 (consolidated, PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/garbage-collection.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/garbage-collection.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/garbage-collection.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/garbage-collection.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/garbage-collection.md)
- [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Garbage and Recycling, City of Cranbrook](https://www.cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/public-works/solid-waste-pickup) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste and Recycling Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 4145, 2024 (consolidated to December 10, 2025) (PDF)](https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/91358) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Frequently asked questions, City of Cranbrook](https://www.cranbrook.ca/faqs) (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 Cranbrook. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/garbage-collection/_