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

# Williams Lake garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

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

**Short answer:** Williams Lake's contractor collects one garbage cart and one recycling cart per home on the same set weekday (Monday to Thursday, by zone). Find your day on the City's colour-coded map and calendar. Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. The fee is billed on your property tax notice.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Williams Lake, https://www.williamslake.ca)  
**Cost:** Garbage and recycling charges are billed on the annual property tax notice with water and sewer; the amount is not published. Lost or damaged cart: $65 (120 L) or $108.35 plus GST (240 L).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Services, 250-392-1784
- Phone: City Hall, 250-392-2311

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage and recycling carts go out on the same set weekday (Monday to Thursday, by zone). The City guide refers to 'weekly and holiday collection schedules', but no City page states the recycling frequency in plain words. No curbside organics collection is mentioned.
  - Source: [https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7001/2026---City-of-Williams-Lake---Trib---City-Page---Garbage-Collection-Schedule---Finalv2, 2026 schedule](https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7001/2026---City-of-Williams-Lake---Trib---City-Page---Garbage-Collection-Schedule---Finalv2)
  - Official wording: "YELLOW: MONDAYS BLUE: TUESDAYS COLOUR CODING FOR GREEN: WEDNESDAYS ORANGE: THURSDAYS COLLECTION DAYS: RED: STATUTORY HOLIDAYS" … "COLOUR CODING FOR GREEN: WEDNESDAYS ORANGE: THURSDAYS COLLECTION DAYS: RED: STATUTORY HOLIDAYS January 2026 February 2026 March 2026"
  - Source: [Garbage & Recycling, page](https://www.williamslake.ca/201/Garbage-Recycling)
  - Official wording: "If your regular collection day falls on a statutory holiday, solid waste and recycling will be collected one day later for that week." … "Weekly and holiday collection schedules"
  - Source: [Frequently Asked Questions (Garbage Collection), Garbage Collection FAQ](https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx)
  - Official wording: "Secondary totes also have a $ 10 month charge for weekly collection."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Use the City's colour-coded collection map and printable 2026 calendar on the Garbage Collection Schedule page. Questions: Municipal Services, 250-392-1784.
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Schedule, page](https://www.williamslake.ca/988/Garbage-Collection-Schedule)
  - Official wording: "Click the appropriate link to download a printable copy of the colour-coded collection schedule map" … "Municipal Services Department at 250-392-1784"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** One garbage and one recycling cart per home, 240 L or 120 L. A 120 L set needs a Service Level Change application for a permanent physical disability; changing back to 240 L costs $130. Lost, stolen or damaged carts: $65 (120 L) or $108.35 plus GST (240 L), bought at City Hall during business hours. Secondary suites: second set plus $10 a month.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated), s. 7.1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)
  - Official wording: "Owners of a dwelling unit, strata lots and manufactured homes are permitted to have only one (1) garbage container provided by the City"
  - Source: [https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/153/Application-for-Service-Level-Change, application](https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/153/Application-for-Service-Level-Change)
  - Official wording: "permanent physical disability that prevents him/her from moving the 240 litre cart" … "it will cost $130 to change to 240 litre carts"
  - Source: [Frequently Asked Questions (Garbage Collection), Garbage Collection FAQ](https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx)
  - Official wording: "The cost for each 120 litre cart is $65. A 240 litre cart is $108.35 plus GST." … "Secondary totes also have a $ 10 month charge"
  - Source: [FAQs - CivicPlus.CMS.FAQ, Garbage FAQ, lost, broken or stolen carts](https://www.williamslake.ca/m/faq?cat=16)
  - Official wording: "The new carts can be purchased at City Hall during business hours."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and bring them in the same day. Place them with wheels against the curb, 3 to 4 feet apart (edge of the road if there is no curb); keep them clear of snow, debris and parked vehicles. In winter, not on snow banks, and keep lids fully closed.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated), s. 12.1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)
  - Official wording: "Owners shall place their garbage containers and recycling containers no later than 7:00 am on the" … "remove their garbage containers and recycling containers the same day as collection"
  - Source: [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated), s. 12.2](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)
  - Official wording: "with wheels against the curb, with spacing between containers of" … "three (3) to four (4) feet"
  - Source: [Frequently Asked Questions (Garbage Collection), Garbage Collection FAQ](https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx)
  - Official wording: "Sitting on the ground or asphalt, not on a snow bank"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** Excess garbage placed beside the cart is not collected, and lids must be completely closed. The homeowner must deal with anything that does not fit. No extra-bag or tag system was found. Not allowed in carts: explosives, liquids, construction waste, trade waste, oversized items, and similar.
  - Source: [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated), s. 13.3](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)
  - Official wording: "excess garbage placed beside container" … "container lid not completely closed"
  - Source: [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated), s. 9.1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)
  - Official wording: "demolition or construction waste" … "all liquids"
  - Source: [Frequently Asked Questions (Garbage Collection), Garbage Collection FAQ](https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx)
  - Official wording: "It is the responsibility of the home owner to take care of any excess solid waste that does not fit in to the solid waste carts."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Residential garbage and recycling (utility) charges are billed on the annual property tax notice, together with water and sewer. The amount was not found.
  - Source: [Financial Services | Williams Lake, BC - Official Website, page](https://www.williamslake.ca/254/Financial-Services)
  - Official wording: "annual residential utility (water, sewer, garbage/recycling) charges"
  - Source: [Property Taxes, page](https://www.williamslake.ca/702/Property-Taxes)
  - Official wording: "Residential billing for water, sewer utility and landfill services are billed on the annual property tax notice."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010
  - Source: [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated), s. 1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)
  - Official wording: "City of Williams Lake Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City's contractor collects garbage and recycling carts under the [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757). Each home gets one garbage cart and one recycling cart, 240 L or 120 L. Garbage and recycling carts go out on the same set weekday (Monday to Thursday, by zone). The City guide refers to weekly and holiday collection schedules, but no City page states the recycling frequency in plain words, so check the calendar. No curbside organics collection is mentioned; food waste can be dropped off at the Central Cariboo Transfer Station.

## Steps

1. Find your day on the colour-coded collection map and printable calendar on the [Garbage Collection Schedule](https://www.williamslake.ca/988/Garbage-Collection-Schedule) page. Questions: Municipal Services, 250-392-1784.
2. Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day and bring them in the same day.
3. Place them with wheels against the curb, 3 to 4 feet apart (at the edge of the road if there is no curb). Keep them clear of snow, debris and parked vehicles.
4. In winter, keep carts off snow banks and keep lids fully closed.

## Good to know

- If your day falls on a statutory holiday, collection is one day later that week, and all other days that week shift forward one day.
- Fee: billed on the annual property tax notice with water and sewer. The City does not publish the amount.
- A 120 L set needs a Service Level Change application for a permanent physical disability; changing back to 240 L costs $130. Lost, stolen or damaged carts: $65 (120 L) or $108.35 plus GST (240 L), bought at City Hall during business hours. Secondary suites: a second set of carts plus $10 a month.
- Excess garbage placed beside the cart is not collected, and lids must be completely closed. Excess household waste can go to the Central Cariboo Transfer Station.
- Not allowed in carts: explosives, liquids, construction waste, trade waste, oversized items and similar.
- The City's winter cart advice differs between FAQ answers (1 metre or 2 metres from obstructions such as snow banks); leave plenty of room.
- Bylaw notices: $100 for prohibited waste, $50 for carts left out after collection day.
- The City's copy of the bylaw is dated 2016; later changes, if any, were not seen.

## Official forms and pages

- [Garbage Collection Schedule page](https://www.williamslake.ca/988/Garbage-Collection-Schedule)
- [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw 2115, 2010 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/garbage-collection.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/garbage-collection.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/garbage-collection.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/garbage-collection.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/garbage-collection.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Garbage & Recycling, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/201/Garbage-Recycling) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Frequently Asked Questions (Garbage Collection), City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/Faq.aspx) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Garbage Collection Schedule, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/988/Garbage-Collection-Schedule) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw No. 2115, 2010 (consolidated)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/78757) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Taxes, City of Williams Lake](https://www.williamslake.ca/702/Property-Taxes) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, 2013 (consolidated), Schedule A-16](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7001/2026---City-of-Williams-Lake---Trib---City-Page---Garbage-Collection-Schedule---Finalv2](https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/7001/2026---City-of-Williams-Lake---Trib---City-Page---Garbage-Collection-Schedule---Finalv2) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/153/Application-for-Service-Level-Change](https://www.williamslake.ca/DocumentCenter/View/153/Application-for-Service-Level-Change) (read 2026-11-05)
- [FAQs - CivicPlus.CMS.FAQ](https://www.williamslake.ca/m/faq?cat=16) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Financial Services | Williams Lake, BC - Official Website](https://www.williamslake.ca/254/Financial-Services) (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 Williams Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/garbage-collection/_