New Westminster garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits
When is garbage collected in New Westminster, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?
Short answer
New Westminster collects garbage every two weeks, and your day is on the City's online collection schedule. Put your cart at the curb or lane by 7 a.m. on collection day. Extra garbage goes in Tag-a-Bag bags ($5 per tag), each no more than 60 L and 23 kg.
Key facts
| How often | Garbage every two weeks, recycling every two weeks, and yard trimmings and food scraps weekly year round.Garbage Collection, intro; Recycling, intro; Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps Collection, intro · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingGarbage will be collected every two weeks. Recycling will be collected every two weeks. Yard Trimmings and food scraps will be collected weekly, year round. |
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| Finding your day | Use the City's online Collection Schedule at newwestcity.ca/collectionschedule.Garbage Collection, intro · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlease refer to the Collection Schedule for more details. Collection Schedule -> https://www.newwestcity.ca/collectionschedule |
| Carts | Garbage carts come in 120 L (small) or 240 L (large). Request a size change through the Collection Cart Request Form; upsizing garbage from 120 L to 240 L costs an $80 admin fee, and recycling and greens changes cost nothing. Replacing a lost or damaged cart is $105 (120 L) or $130 (240 L).Collection Cart Size Change Request, intro; Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 4.0, Part 4.0 D · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThere are two sizes of carts – 120L small or 240L large. There is no difference in cost for upsizing or downsizing. To upsize from a 120 Litre garbage container to a 240 Litre garbage $80.00 For the replacement of a lost or damaged 120 Litre container, as $105.00 For the replacement of a lost or damaged 240 Litre container, as $130.00 |
| Setting carts out | Put carts at the curb or lane by 7 a.m. on collection day (collection runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and return them to storage by the end of that day. Wheels against the curb, lid arrows toward the street, at least 1 m clear on all sides and 3 m clear above.Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014, s. 10.1; Garbage and Recycling, Cart Placement; Garbage and Recycling Frequently Asked Questions, missed · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingplace collection carts out for collection prior to 7am on the collection day; return collection carts to their storage location no later than the end of the day of one (1) meter clear space on all sides of each collection container and three (3) metres of Carts should be at the curb for pick-up no later than 7:00 am on collection day. Make sure arrows on the lids are pointing towards the centre of the street. Collection takes place between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. |
| Limits and extra garbage | Do not overfill: the lid must close. Extra garbage goes in Tag-a-Bag bags ($5 per tag), each no more than 60 L and 23 kg (the City says under 50 lbs), placed on top of the cart or 1 m away.Garbage Collection, Tag-a-Bag; Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014, s. 5.1; Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014, s. 7.1(j); Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 4.0, Part 4.0 C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingResidents that have additional bags need to place extra tagged bags on top of your cart, or group bags 1 metre away from your garbage cart Tags can be purchased for $5 each Each bag of garbage must have a volume no greater than 60 litres and weigh no more Set out only the amount of waste that will fit into a collection cart or disposal bin with (not to exceed 60 Litres in $5.00 |
| Fee | Annual solid waste charge on the utility bill: $515.85 for a 120 L garbage cart or $796.99 for a 240 L cart, with a 5% discount if paid on time (net $490.06 and $757.14). Glass collection adds $19.22 a year. Owners 65 or older living alone can get 25% off.Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 4.0, Part 4.0 A; Utility Rates, 2026 rates; Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014, s. 6.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFor each 120 Litre garbage collection cart, as provided by the City - Annually $515.85 $25.79 $490.06 For each 240 Litre garbage collection cart, as provided by the City - Annually $796.99 $39.85 $757.14 glass collection receptacle as provided by the City – $19.22 Solid Waste - 120L1 | $535.07 | ($26.75) | $508.32 to have services waived at 25% of the solid waste services rate set |
| Bylaw | New Westminster Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014 (rules); Engineering Fees and Rates Bylaw No. 7553, 2013, Part 4.0 (fees).Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014, s. 1; Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 4.0, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw shall be cited for all purposes as "New Westminster Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Engineering Fees and Rates Bylaw No. 7553, 2013.” |
How it works
The City collects garbage every two weeks, recycling every two weeks, and yard trimmings and food scraps weekly year round. Glass is collected separately in a grey bin. Find your day on the City's online Collection Schedule at newwestcity.ca/collectionschedule. Statutory holidays may shift collection days. The rules are in the Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, and fees are in the Engineering Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, Part 4.0.
Steps
- Put your cart at the curb or lane by 7 a.m. on collection day (collection runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and return it to storage by the end of that day. Where construction, filming or snow may affect road access, set it out by 6:30 a.m.
- Place the cart with its wheels against the curb and lid arrows toward the street, at least 1 m clear on all sides and 3 m clear above.
- Do not overfill: the lid must close.
- For extra garbage, buy $5 Tag-a-Bag tags. Each bag may be no more than 60 L and 23 kg (the City says under 50 lbs), and goes on top of the cart or 1 m away.
Good to know
- Cart sizes are 120 L (small) or 240 L (large). To change size, use the Collection Cart Request Form or call Public Works at 604-526-4691. Upsizing garbage from 120 L to 240 L costs an $80 admin fee; recycling and greens changes cost nothing.
- Annual charge: $515.85 (120 L) or $796.99 (240 L), net $490.06 or $757.14 with the 5% on-time discount. Glass adds $19.22. Owners 65 or older living alone can get 25% off. The City's utility page shows a different discount deadline (May 4, 2026) than the bylaw (within 60 days of billing), so check your bill.
- A missed collection caused by late set-out, the wrong cart or poor placement can be recovered for $55.
- Special pick-ups for large items start at $55 for one item.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey
Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality →
Sources
- Garbage Collection, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Recycling, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Yard Trimmings and Food Scraps Collection, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Garbage and Recycling, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Garbage and Recycling Frequently Asked Questions, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Collection Cart Size Change Request, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Utility Rates, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Solid Waste Regulation Bylaw 7634, 2014 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Engineering User Fees and Rates Bylaw 7553, 2013, Part 4.0 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
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