---
title: "Vancouver garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected in Vancouver, and what are the rules for set-out and extra bags?"
place: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/vancouver
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Vancouver
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Vancouver garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

**Question:** When is garbage collected in Vancouver, and what are the rules for set-out and extra bags?

**Short answer:** Enter your Vancouver address on the City’s waste collection schedule. You can print a property-specific calendar and sign up for reminders by phone, email or the VanCollect app.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Vancouver, https://vancouver.ca)  
**Cost:** For 2026, annual City garbage charges are $117 for 75 L, $134 for 120 L, $157 for 180 L, $179 for 240 L and $224 for 360 L.  

## Key facts

- **How often:** Every other week for houses and strata duplexes on City service. Rowhouses, multi-unit housing and commercial buildings have separate service arrangements.
  - Source: [Flat utility rates, Flat utility rates, garbage cart collection](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/flat-rates.aspx)
  - Official wording: "We charge these annual flat utility rates for properties that receive the City’s biweekly (every other week) garbage collection service." … "Houses must use the City’s biweekly (every other week) garbage collection service." … "Strata duplexes must use the City’s biweekly garbage collection service." … "Rowhouse owners may request the City’s biweekly garbage collection service at the applicable rates." … "Owners of multi-unit residential buildings and commercial buildings may request the City’s biweekly garbage collection service. We provide this service at our discretion if it is compatible with our operation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Finding your day:** Enter your Vancouver address on the City’s waste collection schedule.
  - Source: [Collection schedules, What's happening Collection calendars will no longer be mailed](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/garbage-and-recycling-collection-schedules.aspx)
  - Official wording: "Enter your address in the search bar to review your customized collection schedule."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Carts:** Use the City-supplied wheeled garbage cart for garbage and the green cart for separated organics. Keep the garbage cart lid completely closed.
  - Source: [Solid Waste By-law No. 8417, Part II, definitions and garbage cart requirements](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/8417c.pdf)
  - Official wording: ""garbage bag" means a plastic bag supplied by the owner or occupier of property for the deposit of garbage, "garbage cart" means a wheeled container supplied by the city for the deposit of garbage, "green cart" means a wheeled container supplied by the city for the deposit of sourceseparated organic waste, "green cart service" means the collection of source-separated organic waste by the city, "house" means any single family dwelling, non-strata duplex or converted single family" … "(c) must ensure that the cover of a garbage cart remains completely closed at all times, except when it is necessary to open the cover to dispose of solid waste;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Setting carts out:** Set bins out by 7 a.m. with lids closed and arrows facing the lane or street. Leave 1 m clear on each side and 3.5 m above. Bring them back after collection.
  - Source: [Set out garbage, recycling, and green waste | City of Vancouver, On collection day, give your bins some space](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/set-out-garbage-recycling-green-waste.aspx)
  - Official wording: "On collection day, give your bins some space. To make sure your bins are collected, follow these guidelines: 1. Set the bins out by 7am. 2. Make sure to close the lid. Don't let the bins overflow so much that the lid can't close properly. 3. Place the bins so the arrows on the lids point toward the centre of the lane or the street. 4. Space your green bin and garbage so there is a least 1 m (3 feet) of space on all sides, and 3.5 m (11.5 feet) of clearance above. Your recycling boxes and bags should be placed 1 m from your garbage or green bin and in such a way that collection crews can access them. 5. Bring the bins back onto your property after they are emptied."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Limits and extra garbage:** Garbage must fit with the cart lid fully closed. Leave a metre of clearance around each bin so the crew can collect it.
  - Source: [Set out garbage, recycling, and green waste | City of Vancouver, Collection-day guidelines](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/set-out-garbage-recycling-green-waste.aspx)
  - Official wording: "On collection day, give your bins some space. To make sure your bins are collected, follow these guidelines: 1. Set the bins out by 7am. 2. Make sure to close the lid. Don't let the bins overflow so much that the lid can't close properly. 3. Place the bins so the arrows on the lids point toward the centre of the lane or the street. 4. Space your green bin and garbage so there is a least 1 m (3 feet) of space on all sides, and 3.5 m (11.5 feet) of clearance above. Your recycling boxes and bags should be placed 1 m from your garbage or green bin and in such a way that collection crews can access them. 5. Bring the bins back onto your property after they are emptied."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Fee:** For 2026, annual City garbage charges are $117 for 75 L, $134 for 120 L, $157 for 180 L, $179 for 240 L and $224 for 360 L.
  - Source: [Flat utility rates, Garbage bin rates, annual flat utility rates for 2026](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/flat-rates.aspx)
  - Official wording: "We charge these annual flat utility rates for properties that receive the City’s biweekly (every other week) garbage collection service." … "Bin size | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 --- | --- | --- | --- 75 L | $117 | $124 | $112 120 L | $134 | $142 | $129 180 L | $157 | $166 | $151 240 L | $179 | $190 | $173 360 L | $224 | $238 | $216"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Vancouver Solid Waste By-law No. 8417.
  - Source: [Solid Waste By-law No. 8417, Cover and Part I, short title](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/8417c.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CITY OF VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA SOLID WASTE BY-LAW NO. 8417 This By-law is printed under and by authority of the Council of the City of Vancouver (Consolidated for convenience only" … "THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VANCOUVER, in public meeting, enacts as follows: PART I SHORT TITLE 1. The name of this By-law is the "Solid Waste By-law"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Find the service for the actual address before setting anything out. A collection schedule, a set-out time and the amount the collector will take answer three separate questions about the same pickup. Every other week for houses and strata duplexes on City service. Rowhouses, multi-unit housing and commercial buildings have separate service arrangements.

## Steps

1. Use the service information in [Collection schedules](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/garbage-and-recycling-collection-schedules.aspx). Locate the address on the service schedule or confirm the arrangement for the household. Check that you are reading the garbage instructions for the correct day or route.
2. Check the permitted container and sort out anything that must go to a different service. Use the set-out instructions for the property, especially where wildlife or shared bins are a concern.

## Good to know

- Use the City-supplied wheeled garbage cart for garbage and the green cart for separated organics. Keep the garbage cart lid completely closed.
- Set bins out by 7 a.m. with lids closed and arrows facing the lane or street. Leave 1 m clear on each side and 3.5 m above. Bring them back after collection.
- Garbage must fit with the cart lid fully closed. Leave a metre of clearance around each bin so the crew can collect it.
- For 2026, annual City garbage charges are $117 for 75 L, $134 for 120 L, $157 for 180 L, $179 for 240 L and $224 for 360 L.
- Read the applicable provisions in [Solid Waste By-law No. 8417 (PDF)](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/8417c.pdf).

## Related questions

- [Vancouver yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/yard-waste.md)
- [Vancouver watering restrictions](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/water-restrictions.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/garbage-collection.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/garbage-collection.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/garbage-collection.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/garbage-collection.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/garbage-collection.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Collection schedules](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/garbage-and-recycling-collection-schedules.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Flat utility rates](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/flat-rates.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Solid Waste By-law No. 8417 (PDF)](https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/8417c.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Vancouver municipal office contact information](https://vancouver.ca/your-government/contact-the-city-of-vancouver.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Set out garbage, recycling, and green waste | City of Vancouver](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/set-out-garbage-recycling-green-waste.aspx) (read 2026-11-09)

_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 Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/garbage-collection/_