Apartments, condos, and townhomes: Waste collection services and resources

Services for your building

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  Green bin: food scraps and yard trimmings

  Food scraps are banned by both the City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver regional district from disposal as garbage.

  Organic material you need to place in the green bin include:

  • Food scraps
  • Raw and cooked food
  • Plate scrapings
  • Leftovers
  • Expired food
  • Meat
  • Bones
  • Dairy products
  • Paper products soiled with food residue and oils
  • Yard trimmings

  Under our Solid Waste By-law PDF file (356 KB), every property in Vancouver must have an organic waste diversion plan in place. 

  Advantages of composting food scraps

  A 2023 Metro Vancouver waste audit found that 40% of items found in multi-family garbage is actually compostable, and should go into the green bin.

  By placing food scraps and organic waste in green bins instead of the garbage, we can recycle essential nutrients back into the soil and significantly reduce harmful methane emissions from landfills.

  Watch Metro Vancouver's video on the importance of sorting food scraps into green bin External website, opens in new tab

  Hire a private waste hauler or set up on-site organics management system 

  Most multi-family buildings in Vancouver are serviced by private waste haulers. We collect food scraps and yard trimmings from a small number of multi-family buildings. Currently, we are not accepting new multi-family buildings for this service.

  • Find a green bin hauler and learn what questions to ask
  • Learn about on-site composting options
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  Recycling

  Under our Solid Waste By-law PDF file (356 KB), every property in Vancouver must have a recycling program in place.

  Recycle BC External website, opens in new tab is the province-wide program responsible for residential recycling services across British Columbia, including curbside and multi-family recycling in Vancouver. The City of Vancouver does not provide recycling collection services.

  The Recycle BC program is funded through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) External website, opens in new tab, where retailers and manufacturers are responsible for the costs of collecting and recycling materials.

  Changes to Recycle BC's recycling program for Vancouver apartments and condos starting February 16, 2026

  Recycle BC has transitioned to 2 new service providers:

  • Recycling Alternative
    • Service areas: Downtown and False Creek
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone: 778-371-1467 
  • Emterra Environmental
    • Service areas: All other areas
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone: 778-371-1468 

  Flexible plastics can now be recycled in the new pink cart in your building.

  For all multi-family recycling enquiries, including schedules, missed pickups or cart requests, contact your service provider.

  Learn more about Recycle BC changes, including a service area map. External website, opens in new tab

  Selecting a different service provider

  If you choose a recycling service provider outside the Recycle BC program:

  • Your recycling costs will not be offset by Recycle BC.
  • You will be responsible for negotiating rates and contract terms.
  • New recycling carts may be required and may involve a fee.
  • You must notify Recycle BC of the change.
  • Existing carts will be retrieved by Recycle BC, their service provider, or the City. If your carts have a Recycle BC or Waste Management (WM) decal, contact Recycle BC for instructions.
  • Different service providers may use different sorting systems and accept different materials. You are responsible for confirming the service meets your building’s needs.
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  Garbage

  We collect garbage in wheeled garbage carts from a small number of multi-family buildings.

  Currently, we are not accepting new customers for this service.

  We do not offer garbage dumpster rental service.

  Factors to consider before choosing a collection service provider for your building

  If your building requires a new collection service provider, here are some tips and suggestions to consider:

  • Review the list of private haulers who provide garbage collection service in Vancouver PDF file (141 KB)
  • Make changes to improve waste diversion in your building. Our waste audits show that recyclables and food scraps are still being disposed of into the garbage stream.
  • Review resources for managing waste at your building in the section below which can help you encourage residents to divert useful materials away from the garbage.
  • Estimate how much storage you will need.
    • Review the set of guidelines External website, opens in new tab to learn strategies and requirements to meet our garbage and recycling regulations.

  Questions to ask before choosing a garbage hauler

  Collection capacity and flexibility

  • How much container capacity and collection frequency will you need?
  • Is there flexibility to change:
    • Frequency of collection
    • Container sizes and quantities
    • Types of materials collected

  Information icon Ask for flexibility in container sizes and collection frequency during the first few months of your garbage collection service and certain times of the year (like summer) when you might collect less garbage and more food scraps.

  Fees

  • What does the fee include? (Example: types of service provided, frequency of service, and the type of containers provided)
  • Replacing missing or broken bins?
  • Requesting an additional unscheduled pickup?

  Container type, care, and placement

  • What type of containers are offered for garbage? (Example: carts, dumpsters, split bins)
  • Are containers periodically washed? If yes, how often and what is the cost?
  • Is odour control provided for the containers?
  • Are containers lined with bags?
  • Where would the containers get placed?
    • If outdoors, are they locked to prevent others from using them?
    • If it's on a City street or lane, have you considered the extra costs for a permit to store containers on City property?

  Accepted items for collection

  • What garbage items are accepted and unaccepted?
  • What happens when there is a contaminated load with unaccepted items?

  Reporting

  • What happens to the garbage after it is collected?
  • Does the hauler periodically provide a report indicating the amount of waste disposed?

  Additional services

  • Does the hauler include or charge extra for:
    • Carry-out or jitney service (where the driver enters the building to carry out the containers for collection)?
    • Educational materials and support for residents (posters, pamphlets, presentations, or training sessions)?