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

# Prince George 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 Prince George collects household garbage from City-issued carts by zone. Find your zone on the map in the City's 2026-2027 collection schedule. Put the cart out before 8 a.m. on collection day (not before 4 a.m.) with the lid closed, and bring it in by 7 p.m.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince George, https://www.princegeorge.ca)  
**Cost:** 2026 rates per 3-month period: small cart (135 L) $48, medium (250 L) $63.25, large (360 L) $76.50; 2027 rates $51, $67 and $81. Billed twice a year with the utility bill; a 5% penalty applies if paid after the due date. Replacement cart $75; exchange to a larger size $30; no fee for a smaller cart.  
**How long:** The 2026-2027 calendar shows collection dates by zone.  
**Where:**
- Online: Residential Garbage Collection Schedule 2026-2027 (PDF with zone map), https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/5048
- Phone: 311 Service Centre, 311 (Inside city limits. 250-561-7600 outside city limits.)
- Email: 311 Service Centre, 311@princegeorge.ca

## Key facts

- **How often:** The Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw sizes carts to hold all of a household's garbage on a weekly basis. The City's pages do not say how often carts are emptied. No City organics collection is described; Recycle BC runs curbside recycling.
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (consolidated February 6, 2017), s. 6.2(a)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "containing all of the Garbage generated from the premises on a weekly basis."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Garbage is collected by zone. Find your zone on the map on the back of the City's 2026-2027 Residential Garbage Collection Schedule; the calendar shows collection dates. No collection on statutory holidays. For help call 311 (inside the City).
  - Source: [2026-2027 Residential Garbage Collection Schedule, 2026-2027 schedule](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/5048)
  - Official wording: "Prince George is divided into garbage collection zones." … "will be no garbage collection" … "FOR MORE INFORMATION: PRINCEGEORGE.CA/GARBAGE OR CALL 311 IN CITY LIMITS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** The City supplies the cart: small (135 L), medium (250 L) or large (360 L). Ask the City for a different size or an extra cart; fees change. Replacement cart $75; exchange to a larger size $30; no fee for a smaller cart.
  - Source: [Garbage & Recycling, Garbage cart pricing](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "| Small | 35 gal or 135 litres or 1.5 bags | $192.00" … "| Medium | 65 gal or 250 litres or 3.0 bags | $253.00" … "| Large | 95 gal or 360 litres or 4.0 bags | $306.00"
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (consolidated February 6, 2017), s. 6.2(b), 6.2(c)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An occupier may request the Director to provide a replacement Collection" … "Cart of a different capacity, or one or more additional Collection Carts," … "When requests from the occupier for a smaller volume container are performed, no fee will be charged."
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004 (consolidated), Schedule A-6](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Container Replacement Fee $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00" … "Container Exchange Fee $30.00 $30.00 $30.00 $30.00" … "During the first six months of the program, the container can be exchanged once free of charge."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put carts at the curb, boulevard or shoulder (or beside the lane, on your own land) before 8 a.m. on collection day but not before 4 a.m., and take them in by 7 p.m. Keep carts at least 1 m from any structure or object. (Sources differ: Conflicts with the bylaw: the City's Garbage & Recycling page says to put the cart out between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m., and the schedule asks for 2 m of clearance on all sides; Bylaw 7661 says before 8 a.m. (not earlier than 4 a.m.) and 1 m from any structure or object. The bylaw is followed here.)
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (consolidated February 6, 2017), ss. 6.2(d), 6.2(g), 6.4(b)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "adjacent to the boulevard, curb or shoulder of the highway prior to 8:00 a.m. on the collection day" … "No Collection Cart shall be placed for collection such that it is within one metre of any structure or other object." … "by 7:00 pm on the collection day."
  - Source: [2026-2027 Residential Garbage Collection Schedule, 2026-2027 schedule](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/5048)
  - Official wording: "Carts must be at the curb by 8:00am on the" … "day of collection, but no earlier than 4:00am." … "Provide at least 2m of clearance on all sides,"
  - Source: [Garbage & Recycling, Collection instructions](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "Place cart outside between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. on collection day." … "Remove carts and recycling carts from the curbside by 7 p.m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** The lid must close fully; overfull carts are not emptied and nothing may be left beside the cart. No tags or extra bags are mentioned. Not allowed: tires, drywall, hazardous materials, propane tanks, electronics and appliances. Extra household garbage can go to a transfer station for $6.
  - Source: [Garbage & Recycling, Collection instructions, Restricted items](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "Do NOT overfill carts. Overloaded carts will not be emptied." … "Car tires" … "Gypsum (drywall)"
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (consolidated February 6, 2017), s. 6.4(a), 6.4(d)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "or place any such material adjacent to the container."
  - Source: [Vanway Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Waste accepted](https://www.rdffg.ca/VanwayRegionalTransferStation)
  - Official wording: "if you are a City of Prince George resident there is a $6 fee to dispose of your excess garbage"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** 2026 rates per 3-month period: small cart $48, medium $63.25, large $76.50 (about $192, $253 and $306 a year). Billed twice a year with the utility bill; a 5% penalty applies if paid after the due date.
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004 (consolidated), Schedule A-6, Schedule A-6, Automated Collection Service](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Small container $42.75 $45.25 $48.00 $51.00" … "Medium container $56.25 $59.75 $63.25 $67.00" … "Large container $68.25 $72.25 $76.50 $81.00" … "Bills shall be rendered twice yearly by the City" … "subject to a penalty of five percent (5%) if the account is paid after the due date"
  - Source: [Garbage & Recycling, Garbage cart pricing](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "| Small | 35 gal or 135 litres or 1.5 bags | $192.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (fees in Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004, Schedule A-6)
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (consolidated February 6, 2017), s. 1.1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Prince George Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004"
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004 (consolidated), Schedule A-6](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fees and Charges for Garbage Collection"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf), the City supplies the cart. Garbage is collected by zone: find yours on the map on the back of the 2026-2027 schedule, and the calendar shows collection dates. There is no collection on statutory holidays. The City's pages do not say how often carts are emptied. No City organics collection is described; Recycle BC runs curbside recycling.

## Steps

1. Find your zone and dates on the Residential Garbage Collection Schedule 2026-2027.
2. Put the cart at the curb, boulevard or shoulder (or beside the lane, on your own land) before 8 a.m. on collection day but not before 4 a.m.
3. Keep it at least 1 m from any structure or object, with the lid fully closed.
4. Take it in by 7 p.m.

## Good to know

- Another official source differs: the City's Garbage & Recycling page says to put the cart out between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m., and the schedule asks for 2 m of clearance on all sides. Confirm with 311.
- Carts come in small (135 L), medium (250 L) or large (360 L). Ask the City for a different size or an extra cart; fees change. A resident who does not want a cart can apply for a Cart Credit but is still billed the small cart rate.
- Overfull carts are not emptied, and nothing may be left beside the cart. No tags or extra bags are mentioned. Households not using carts may set out at most 4 containers or bags, each under 22 kg.
- Not allowed: tires, drywall, hazardous materials, propane tanks, electronics and appliances. Extra household garbage can go to a transfer station for $6. A one-time pickup when moving out is $75.
- Cart offences are a bylaw notice of $100, or $125 if paid late.

## Official forms and pages

- [Garbage and Recycling, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
- [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw 7661, 2004 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf)
- [Set Out/Set Back application (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2022-12/Set_Out_Set_Back_Application_Form.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/garbage-collection.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/garbage-collection.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/garbage-collection.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/garbage-collection.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/garbage-collection.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Garbage & Recycling, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling) (read 2026-11-05)
- [2026-2027 Residential Garbage Collection Schedule (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/5048) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Garbage Collection Regulation Bylaw No. 7661, 2004 (consolidated February 6, 2017) (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-09/BL7661_CONSOLIDATED_2017-02-06_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004 (consolidated), Schedule A-6 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Vanway Regional Transfer Station, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George](https://www.rdffg.ca/VanwayRegionalTransferStation) (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 Prince George. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/garbage-collection/_