---
title: "Kitimat garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected in Kitimat, and what are the rules for carts and limits?"
place: Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kitimat
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Kitimat garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

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

**Short answer:** The District of Kitimat provides residential garbage collection at least bi-weekly, recycling at least bi-weekly, and food waste at least weekly. Put containers out by 8:00 a.m. (not before 4:30 a.m.) and bring them in by 9:00 p.m. The fee is $146 a year per dwelling unit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal  
**Cost:** $146 a year per dwelling unit, charged on the property tax bill. Properties that qualify for the Home Owner Grant get a 10% discount on the residential collection charge.  
**How long:** Collection frequencies are minimums: garbage and recycling at least bi-weekly, food waste at least weekly.  
**Where:**
- Email: Garbage and recycling questions, waylesswaste@kitimat.ca
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-632-8900

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage: not less than once bi-weekly. Recyclable material: not less than once bi-weekly. Food waste: not less than once weekly. Yard waste: not less than once bi-weekly from May to November. Frequency may change as the District or its agents decide.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 7.1.9](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Garbage Collection Service shall not be less than once Bi-Weekly." … "Recyclable Material Collection Service shall not be less than once Bi-Weekly." … "Food Waste Collection Service shall not be less than once weekly." … "is subject" … "to change from time to time, as determined by the District or its agents"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Not confirmed. The Municipal Code does not say how to find your collection day.
- **Carts:** Garbage: rigid plastic can up to 121 L with a secure non-hinged lid. Recycling: blue rigid box up to 90 L, and a yellow poly bag up to 80 L for paper. Food waste: green rigid cart up to 57 L with a hinged lid. Yard waste: kraft paper bags up to 121 L or a rigid can up to 121 L.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Schedule A (Part 7, Div 1)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Of not more than 121 litres capacity; and" … "Of not more than 90 litres;" … "Of not more than 80 litres;" … "Of not more than 57 litres;" … "Kraft Paper Bags with a capacity of not more than 121"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put containers out by 8:00 a.m. but not earlier than 4:30 a.m. on collection day, in full view on the property line next to the road, and remove and store them by 9:00 p.m. that day. Pick up any loose waste by 9:00 p.m. Store waste so wildlife and animals cannot reach it.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 7.1.4.5; 7.1.2.3](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "by 8:00" … "a.m. but not earlier than 4:30 a.m. on the day scheduled for its" … "Shall remove and properly store the Container by 9:00 p.m." … "store Solid Waste in a manner to prevent"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** Each dwelling unit: up to 3 garbage containers, 1 food waste container and 4 yard waste containers per collection; no limit on recycling containers. Each container may weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs). Excess must be disposed of by other arrangements. Up to 15 garbage container tags per quarter may be issued only for a documented medical condition.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 7.1.10, 7.1.5.2](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "limited to collection of three (3) Garbage" … "limited to one (1) Food Waste Container" … "limited to four (4) Yard Waste Container" … "weighs more than 23 kilogram (50 lbs)"
  - Source: [Garbage container tags application, Application form](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/garbage-container-tags-fee.pdf)
  - Official wording: "may issue up to 15 Garbage Container Tags per quarter"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $146 a year per dwelling unit, charged on the property tax bill. Properties that qualify for the Home Owner Grant (Schedule 4) get a 10% discount on the residential collection charge.
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, s. 7.1.13](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$146.00 per year, per" … "payable by" … "line charge as part of annual" … "shall receive a discount of TEN" … "(10) percent for residential Collection Service charges"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Kitimat Municipal Code, Part 7, Division 1 - Residential Solid Waste Collection
  - Source: [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02, Part 7, Division 1](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Division 1 - Residential Solid Waste Collection"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under Part 7, Division 1 of the [Kitimat Municipal Code](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf), the District provides collection through a contractor: garbage not less than once bi-weekly, recyclable material not less than once bi-weekly, food waste not less than once weekly, and yard waste not less than once bi-weekly from May to November. The District may change the frequency.

Containers: garbage in a rigid plastic can up to 121 L with a secure non-hinged lid; recycling in a blue rigid box up to 90 L plus a yellow poly bag up to 80 L for paper; food waste in a green rigid cart up to 57 L with a hinged lid; yard waste in kraft paper bags or a rigid can up to 121 L.

## Steps

1. Put containers out by 8:00 a.m. but not earlier than 4:30 a.m. on collection day, in full view on the property line next to the road.
2. Remove and store them by 9:00 p.m. that day, and pick up any loose waste.
3. Ask Municipal Hall (250-632-8900) or waylesswaste@kitimat.ca how to find your collection day. The Code does not say.

## Good to know

- Each dwelling unit may put out up to 3 garbage containers, 1 food waste container and 4 yard waste containers per collection. There is no limit on recycling containers.
- Each container may weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs). Excess waste must be disposed of by other arrangements.
- Up to 15 garbage container tags per quarter may be issued only for a documented medical condition.
- Store waste so wildlife and animals cannot reach it.

## Official forms and pages

- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf)
- [Garbage container tags application, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/garbage-container-tags-fee.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Kitimat yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/yard-waste.md)
- [Kitimat backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/backyard-fire.md)
- [Kitimat unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/garbage-collection.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/garbage-collection.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/garbage-collection.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/garbage-collection.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/garbage-collection.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Kitimat Municipal Code, consolidated 2026-02 (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/kmc-consolidated-2026-02.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garbage container tags application, District of Kitimat (PDF)](https://docs.kitimat.ca/docs/garbage-container-tags-fee.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/garbage-collection/_