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

# Port Coquitlam garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

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

**Short answer:** The City of Port Coquitlam collects grey garbage carts every other week, alternating with blue recycling carts, on a day set by your zone (five zones). Green carts are weekly. Only what fits in the cart with the lid closed is collected; the City lists no extra-bag option.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Coquitlam, https://www.portcoquitlam.ca)  
**Cost:** The solid waste levy for a one-dwelling home is $333 a year: garbage 240 L $208.40, green cart 240 L $124.60, recycling $0. It appears on the property tax bill.  
**How long:** Collection moves one day after a statutory holiday.  
**Where:**
- Online: Collection Schedule and Zone Map (enter your address), https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection/collection-schedule-zone-map
- Phone: Public Works (damaged or stolen cart), 604-927-5496
- Email: Public Works, publicworks@portcoquitlam.ca

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage (grey cart) and recycling (blue cart) are each collected every other week, on alternating weeks. Green carts (food scraps and yard trimmings) are collected weekly. Glass (grey bin) is collected monthly.
  - Source: [Waste Collection, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection)
  - Official wording: "Green carts (green waste) are collected weekly" … "Blue carts (recycling) and grey carts (garbage) are collected on alternating weeks" … "Grey bins (glass) are collected monthly"
  - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900, s. 4.1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "garbage collection every other week;" … "recyclable material collection every other week; and,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** The city has five collection zones. Enter your address on the City's Collection Schedule page, or check the 2026 Collection Calendar and Zone Map. The free Sort & Report App sends reminders. Collection is bumped one day after a statutory holiday.
  - Source: [Collection Schedule and Zone Map, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection/collection-schedule-zone-map)
  - Official wording: "Port Coquitlam is divided into five collection zones, which determines your collection day." … "Enter your address below to find out your collection schedule:" … "Collection days get bumped by one day after a statutory holiday." … "Get our FREE Sort & Report App to receive notifications about your collection schedule."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** Carts come in 120 L, 240 L or 360 L sizes; larger or extra carts cost extra. A one-dwelling home starts with one 240 L garbage cart, one 240 L green cart and one 240 L recycling cart. Request a size change online; report a damaged or stolen cart to Public Works at 604-927-5496.
  - Source: [Waste Collection, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection)
  - Official wording: "carts are provided in 120L, 240L or 360L sizes. Larger or extra carts are available for a fee." … "If your cart(s) are damaged or missing, please contact Public Works at 604.927.5496"
  - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900, s. 4.2(a)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "one-240L garbage collection cart, one-240L food scraps/yard trimmings" … "collection cart and one-240L recyclable material collection cart for a parcel"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put carts out between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on collection day and bring them back and re-secure them by 7 p.m. Place carts at the road edge with wheels to the curb and lids facing the street, with lids closed, 1 m between carts, 1.5 m from parked vehicles and 3 m clear overhead.
  - Source: [Waste Collection, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection)
  - Official wording: "Set out unlocked carts between 5:30-7:30am on collection day. Re-secure your carts by 7pm." … "Place carts along the edge of the road, with wheels against the curb (if there is one) with lids opening towards the street." … "At least 1 m (3 ft) between carts, 1.5m (5 ft) away from parked vehicles, and 3 m (10 ft) above carts from overhanging objects."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900, s. 8.1(b)-(c)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall, on designated collection days between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and as" … "shall return all carts to their storage area no later than 7:00 p.m. on collection"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** Only what fits in the cart with the lid closed and within the weight limit marked on the cart; extra material is not collected. One- and two-dwelling parcels may have at most 2 carts per waste stream. Extra carts: garbage $60 (240 L) or $90 (360 L); green or recycling $20 or $30. No extra-bag or tag option is listed. Two free large-item pick-ups a year.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900, s. 6.1(j)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "set out only the amount of waste that will fit into a collection cart with the lid" … "closed and so as not to exceed the weight limit specified on the cart; and" … "a cart limit of 2 carts per waste stream is applied per parcel."
  - Source: [Garbage (Grey Cart), page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/greycart)
  - Official wording: "All garbage must fit into the carts provided and the lids must close completely; no extra material will be collected."
  - Source: [Large Item Pick-up, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection/large-item-pick)
  - Official wording: "each qualifying household is allotted 2 free curbside pick-ups of 3 items maximum OR 1 free curbside pick-up of 4-6 items."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Solid waste levy for a home with one dwelling unit (Bylaw Schedule A): $333 a year in total: garbage 240 L $208.40, green cart 240 L $124.60, recycling $0. A 120 L garbage cart deducts $30; 360 L adds $30. The levy appears on the property tax bill.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900, Schedule A, A1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Garbage 1 240 Litre $208.40" … "Food Scraps/Yard Trimmings (Green) 1 240 Litre $124.60" … "Recycling 1 240 Litre $ 0.00" … "TOTAL $333.00"
  - Source: [Large Item Pick-up, page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection/large-item-pick)
  - Official wording: "A solid waste levy must be paid on the residence's property tax bill."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Solid Waste Bylaw, 2015, No. 3900
  - Source: [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900, s. 1](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “Solid Waste Bylaw, 2015, No. 3900”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City runs its own cart collection. Garbage (grey cart) and recycling (blue cart) are each collected every other week, on alternating weeks. Green carts (food scraps and yard trimmings) are weekly, and glass (grey bin) is monthly. The city has five collection zones. The free Sort & Report App sends reminders. Rules come from the [Solid Waste Bylaw 3900](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf).

## Steps

1. Look up your zone on the City's Collection Schedule page, or check the 2026 Collection Calendar and Zone Map.
2. Put carts out between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on collection day, and bring them back and re-secure them by 7 p.m.
3. Place carts at the road edge with wheels to the curb, lids closed and facing the street, 1 m between carts, 1.5 m from parked vehicles and 3 m clear overhead.

## Good to know

- Only what fits in the cart with the lid closed, within the weight limit marked on the cart, is collected. Extra material is not.
- Carts come in 120 L, 240 L or 360 L. A one-dwelling home starts with one 240 L garbage, one 240 L green and one 240 L recycling cart. A 120 L garbage cart deducts $30 from the levy; 360 L adds $30.
- One- and two-dwelling parcels may have at most 2 carts per waste stream. Extra carts: garbage $60 (240 L) or $90 (360 L); green or recycling $20 or $30.
- Two free large-item pick-ups a year.
- Request a size change online. Report a damaged or stolen cart to Public Works at 604-927-5496.

## What you'll need

- Your address, to look up your collection zone

## Official forms and pages

- [Waste Collection page](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection)
- [2026 Collection Calendar and Zone Map (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/media/file/2026-waste-collection-schedule)
- [Solid Waste Bylaw 3900 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/garbage-collection.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/garbage-collection.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/garbage-collection.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/garbage-collection.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/garbage-collection.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Waste Collection, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Collection Schedule and Zone Map, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection/collection-schedule-zone-map) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Garbage (Grey Cart), City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/greycart) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Large Item Pick-up, City of Port Coquitlam](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/services/waste-collection/large-item-pick) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Bylaw 2015, No. 3900 (PDF)](https://www.portcoquitlam.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/3900%20%20-%20Solid%20Waste%20Bylaw.pdf) (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 Port Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/garbage-collection/_