Garbage & Recycling Violations


Property owners are required to ensure the garbage and recycling materials are properly stored and maintained to ensure there is no risk to public health or safety.

Garbage and recycling service issues are regulated under City Bylaw 6803, Solid Waste & Recycling Regulation (see City Bylaws). This bylaw outlines specific requirements of property owners in detail. Of particular note are the following:

  1. The occupier may place for collection one garbage cart every two weeks. An occupier may request a second garbage cart by applying to the City and paying the applicable additional fees.
  2. Each additional container requires a garbage container tag (available for purchase at City facilities). Excess garbage containers shall have a capacity of not more than 100 litres or exceed a gross weight of 34 kilograms (75 lbs.) when full.
  3. There are specific items the City will not collect, including liquids, oversized items, hazardous materials and those items banned from disposal. Please see Bylaw 6803 for more information.
  4. Property owners are required to ensure that all loose garbage is appropriately secured to avoid the scattering of litter/garbage during collection. Owners must remove garbage or litter from their property and adjacent areas.
  5. Garbage and recycling items may not be placed out for pickup any earlier than 8 p.m. the day before collection and empty containers must be retrieved by 9 p.m. on collection day. All garbage and recycling items must be placed out for collection before 7:30 a.m.
  6. No person may place garbage or recycling materials out for collection on another person's property.
  7. Collection time restrictions are: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays. Garbage/recycling collection service providers may not work outside of these hours, except in designated areas (away from residential neighbourhoods).
  8. Scavenging is not permitted. No person may take garbage or recycling materials left for collection by another person on another property. This is a ticketable offence.
  9. Garbage carts and yard/food waste carts provided to a dwelling unit remain the property of the City.
  10. Recycling receptacles are the property of the City and are exclusively for storage and collection of recyclable materials. They may not be used for any other purpose.
  11. Dumping is Illegal - A person must not deposit or dump garbage or other discarded materials on any road, park, or public place. This is a ticketable offence.

To report a violation, you use the Customer Feedback form or call the Bylaw office at 604-276-4345.

Other bylaws the City has in place to ensure the safety of citizens and to maintain a positive and clean appearance of the City are:

  • Unsightly Premises Regulation - Bylaw 7162 (2001)
  • Public Health Protection - Bylaw 6989 (2000)
  • Pollution Prevention and Clean-Up Regulation - Bylaw 7435 (2003)