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

# Terrace garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

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

**Short answer:** Terrace collects garbage from one City cart per household every second week, alternating with recycling; organics go out weekly. Put carts out by 8:00 a.m. Extra bags need a $2 garbage tag. Find your day on Recycle Coach or the annual schedule. No collection on statutory holidays.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Terrace, https://www.terrace.ca)  
**Cost:** Extra bags: $2 garbage tag each. Refuse collection is $12.50 per month, billed on the annual property tax notice; recycling has no charge. A 240-litre green cart swap is a one-time $45.  
**How long:** Garbage every second week; recycling alternates; organics weekly.  
**Where:**
- Online: Recycle Coach (find your collection day), https://www.terrace.ca/recycle-coach
- In person: City Hall (buy garbage tags), 3215 Eby Street, Terrace, BC
- In person: Public Works (buy garbage tags), 5003 Graham Avenue, Terrace, BC
- Phone: Collection questions, 250-615-4019
- Email: Collection questions, recycle@terrace.ca

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage every second week; recycling every second week (alternating with garbage); organics (green cart) weekly. No collection on statutory holidays; the missed pickup is made on the date on the collection schedule.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, s. 13](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "Residential Refuse collection" … "shall be bi-weekly." … "Residential Organics" … "collection shall be weekly."
  - Source: [Garbage, Organics & Recycling, Garbage page](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "There is no garbage or recycling collection on statutory holidays."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Use the Recycle Coach lookup, the Solid Waste Collection Route Map, or the annual Curbside Collection Schedule on terrace.ca. Questions: recycle@terrace.ca or 250-615-4019.
  - Source: [Garbage, Organics & Recycling, Garbage page](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "Use Recycle Coach to find your pickup day or check the Solid Waste Collection Route Map." … "recycle@terrace.ca" … "250-615-4019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** Each home gets a 240-litre refuse cart, a 240-litre recycling cart and a 120-litre organics cart. A 240-litre green cart is a one-time $45 swap; contact the City (250-615-4019) to order. Report damaged or missing carts to Public Works; the owner pays for damage by negligence. Carts belong to the City.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, s. 4(1), 4(4)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "Each eligible Residential Unit shall be provided a 240 litre Refuse Cart, a" … "240 litre Recycling Cart, and a 120 litre Organics Cart." … "notify the City of Terrace Public Works Department of" … "any damaged or missing Carts."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, Schedule A](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "240 litre Organics Cart" … "$100.00"
  - Source: [Garbage, Organics & Recycling, Curbside Yard Waste Pickup](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "There’s a one-time fee of $45 for this cart" … "To order, please contact us"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Carts out by 8:00 a.m. on collection day, within 2 m (6 ft) of the travelled road, arrows pointing to the road, at least 1 m clearance around each cart. Remove empty carts and scattered waste from the roadway by 10:00 p.m. that day. Do not overfill so the lid will not close. (Sources differ: The 2026 Curbside Collection Schedule says carts must be within 1 metre (3 feet) of the travelled portion of the road; the bylaw and the City web page say 2 metres (6 feet). The bylaw is followed here.)
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, s. 5(3), 5(4), 5(5)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "By 8:00 a.m. on the day Solid Waste collection service is provided for" … "within two metres (six feet) of" … "arrows pointing" … "no later than 10:00" … "p.m. on the collection day."
  - Source: [2026 Curbside Collection Schedule, 2026 Guidelines](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/2026%20Collection%20Schedule%20FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carts must be at curbside, within 1 metre (3 feet) of the travelled portion of the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** One refuse cart per household every second week. Extra bags must be black bags with a $2 Garbage Tag attached, maximum 22 kg (50 lb) each. Recycling is unlimited if loose in the cart or in clear bags beside it. No construction waste, hazardous or special waste. Fines apply for repeated prohibited waste in carts (4th offence $25 up to $100).
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, s. 7(2), Schedule A, 11](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "Refuse in excess of that which can be properly contained within the" … "Refuse Cart will be collected if set out in black bags with a Bag" … "Bags must not weigh in excess of 22 kgs (50 lbs)." … "Bag Tags" … "$2.00 per tag"
  - Source: [Garbage, Organics & Recycling, Curbside Refuse](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling)
  - Official wording: "One (1) cart per household every second week for residential garbage is being enforced."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Refuse collection $12.50 per month, billed on the annual property tax invoice to the owner (10% penalty if unpaid by the due date). Recycling no charge; organics and yard waste included. Garbage Tags $2 each.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, Schedule A, s. 20](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "Refuse Collection – Bi-Weekly" … "$12.50 per month" … "Recycling Collection – Bi-Weekly" … "no charge" … "The calendar year’s services shall be billed on the annual property tax"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Terrace Solid Waste Operations Bylaw No. 2130-2017
  - Source: [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130, s. 25](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "City of Terrace Solid Waste Operations Bylaw No."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130](<https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945>), each home gets a 240-litre refuse cart, a 240-litre recycling cart and a 120-litre organics cart. Garbage and recycling are each collected every second week, alternating; organics (the green cart) are collected weekly. Carts belong to the City. Collection is for residential homes; the City does not collect commercial or multi-family waste.

## Steps

1. Look up your day on Recycle Coach, the Solid Waste Collection Route Map, or the annual Curbside Collection Schedule.
2. Put carts out by 8:00 a.m. on collection day, within 2 m (6 ft) of the travelled road, with the arrows pointing to the road and at least 1 m of clearance around each cart.
3. Do not overfill; the lid must close.
4. For extra bags, buy $2 garbage tags at City Hall or Public Works. Use black bags with a tag attached; each bag may weigh at most 22 kg (50 lb).
5. Remove empty carts and any scattered waste from the road by 10:00 p.m. that day.

## Good to know

- Only one refuse cart per household is collected every second week.
- No collection on statutory holidays. The missed pickup is made on the date shown on the collection schedule.
- Refuse collection is $12.50 per month, billed to the owner on the annual property tax invoice (10% penalty if unpaid by the due date). Recycling has no charge; organics and yard waste are included.
- A 240-litre green cart swap is a one-time $45 (call 250-615-4019). The bylaw's schedule charges $100 for a 240-litre organics cart for new homes.
- Conflict: the 2026 collection schedule says carts must be within 1 m (3 ft) of the road. The bylaw and the City web page say 2 m; confirm if unsure.
- Oversized items (microwaves, broken chairs) and construction waste are not collected; take them to the Thornhill Transfer Station.
- Repeated prohibited waste in carts: the first three offences get a warning, then $25, $50, $75, and $100 for the seventh and later.
- A medical waste exemption gives an extra refuse cart at no charge, with written verification of the medical need. Needles and blood are not exempted.
- Report damaged or missing carts to Public Works. The owner pays for damage caused by negligence.

## What you'll need

- Your address, to look up your collection day

## Official forms and pages

- [2026 Curbside Collection Schedule (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/2026%20Collection%20Schedule%20FINAL.pdf)
- [Solid Waste Collection Route Map (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/Residential%20Garbage%20Collection%20Routes.pdf)
- [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/garbage-collection.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/garbage-collection.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/garbage-collection.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/garbage-collection.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/garbage-collection.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Garbage, Organics & Recycling, City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling) (read 2026-11-05)
- [2026 Curbside Collection Schedule, City of Terrace (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/2026%20Collection%20Schedule%20FINAL.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Operations Bylaw 2130 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3945) (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 Terrace. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/garbage-collection/_