Port Alberni garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

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

Port Alberni, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

The City of Port Alberni collects organics every week and garbage and recycling each every two weeks, on alternating weeks, on your regular collection day. Put carts out by 7 a.m.; crews start at 7 a.m. The lid must close; overflow and bags outside the cart are not collected.

Key facts

How often	Organics (green cart) weekly; garbage (black) and recycling (blue) each every two weeks, on alternating weeks, on the same day. Schedules can change for statutory holidays, operations or extreme weather. Curbside service is for single family homes and is mandatory.Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (consolidated), ss. 6.2-6.5; Organics, Recycling and Garbage Collection · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Organics – kitchen and yard waste – weekly; Recyclable materials – acceptable materials – every two weeks; Participation due to statutory holidays, operational issues and extreme weather conditions Organics are now picked up weekly, with garbage and recycling alternating on bi-weekly (every two weeks) frequencies
Finding your day	Your pickup day is the same day each collection; look it up and sign up for alerts in the ACRD Sort'nGo app (a desktop version is also offered). Missed collection or cart questions: Public Works, 250-720-2840.Frequently Asked Questions (curbside collection), FAQ; Organics, Recycling and Garbage Collection; Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, Get the app · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City residents can keep track of collection schedules, sign up for alerts and check which cart For those unable to download the Sort'nGo app to a mobile device, we have a desktop version available: Telephone Keep track of collection schedules
Carts	Garbage (black): 80 L, 120 L or 240 L (360 L is commercial only). Organics (green): 120 L or 240 L. Recycling (blue): 240 L. Owner may ask in writing to change the garbage cart size ($50 per request). Lost or stolen carts are replaced at the owner's cost.Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule E; s. 6.6; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule M; Frequently Asked Questions (curbside collection), FAQ · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 80L Black 30 Kilograms (66 lbs) 240L Blue 90 Kilograms (198 lbs) 360L Black 135 Kilograms (298 lbs) Available upon request Commercial Only An owner may apply to change the size of the standard container by submitting a written Request to change garbage cart size by owner. $50.00 per request Cart size options are available for garbage cart only.
Setting carts out	Put carts at the curb (or road shoulder) on collection day, not before 7 a.m. and ready for emptying between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; unlatch animal-resistant locks by 7 a.m.; remove carts from the street by 11:59 p.m. Leave at least 1 m from other objects.Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (consolidated), s. 11.1(h)-(k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording collectors between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the specified day of No standard container can be put out for collection prior to 7:00 a.m. on the street or lane from which collection service is provided by 11:59 p.m. on day of Carts must be placed at least one metre away from all other objects
Limits and extra garbage	Lid must close; overflow and bags outside the cart are not collected. Maximum weights: 80 L garbage 30 kg; 120 L 45 kg; 240 L 90 kg. An extra pickup of a cart needs 48 hours' notice and costs $10 (80 or 120 L garbage) or $20 (240 L). Excess waste ticket: $150.Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (consolidated), ss. 10.1-10.2, 13.1; Schedule E; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule M, 2; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule A-24 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording shall not place out a volume of waste product of more than can be contained in the closed lid such extra pickup can be arranged by provision of 48 hours notice to the City 120L Black 45 Kilograms (99 lbs) Requested Additional Curbside Pick-Up Request by Owner Excess waste $150.00 $112.50 $187.50
Fee	Annual curbside fee by garbage cart size, effective Sept. 1, 2026: 80 L $200; 120 L $210; 240 L $470. Billed three times a year on the City utility bill.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule M, 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Eligible Residence – Curbside Collection Annual Fee 80 L 1.0 $200.00 120 L 1.5 $210.00 240 L 3.0 $470.00 Waste collection fees are included 3 times per year on your City of Port Alberni utility bill.
Bylaw	Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (rules); fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule M.Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (consolidated), s. 1.1; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 (consolidated), Schedule M · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL CHARGES

How it works

Curbside service is for single family homes and is mandatory under the Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120. Organics (green cart) are collected weekly; garbage (black) and recycling (blue) are each collected every two weeks, on alternating weeks, on the same day. Schedules can change for statutory holidays, operations or extreme weather. Look up your pickup day, and sign up for alerts, in the ACRD Sort'nGo app (a desktop version is also offered).

Steps

Put your carts at the curb (or road shoulder) on collection day, not before 7 a.m., and ready for emptying between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Unlatch animal-resistant locks by 7 a.m. and leave at least 1 m between the cart and other objects. The City FAQ also asks for 3 m of clear space overhead.
Take the carts off the street by 11:59 p.m.

Good to know

Garbage carts are 80 L, 120 L or 240 L (360 L is commercial only); organics carts are 120 L or 240 L; recycling carts are 240 L. Changing the garbage cart size by written request costs $50 per request. Lost or stolen carts are replaced at the owner's cost.
The lid must close. Overflow and bags outside the cart are not collected. Maximum weights: 80 L garbage 30 kg; 120 L 45 kg; 240 L 90 kg.
Fees are in the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, Schedule M. An extra pickup of a cart needs 48 hours' notice.
An excess waste ticket is $150 under the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128.
Missed collection or cart questions: Public Works, 250-720-2840.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville

Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality →

Sources

Organics, Recycling and Garbage Collection, City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
Frequently Asked Questions (curbside collection), City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw No. 5120, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Organics, Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (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. How answers are checked.