Changes to garbage and green bin collection for multi-unit residential and commercial buildings
What you need to know
Weekly garbage collection switches to biweekly in September 2025
Starting in early September 2025, we will switch all properties that currently receive City weekly garbage collection (about 1%) to biweekly service (every second week).
Assessing your building's garbage bin requirements
Review how full your building's garbage bins typically are when set out weekly.
Bins typically less than half full. You likely won't need additional or larger bins when switching to biweekly collection.
Bins typically full or nearly full. You should plan to add or increase the size of your bins if continuing with the City’s biweekly service.
Check available storage space
Inspect your garbage storage area to determine if your building has sufficient space for additional bins.
If you need additional bins but space is limited, consider using a private waste collection service. Private waste companies offer more flexibility to suit your building’s needs, such as different bin types or more frequent pickups. Learn how to opt out of the City's garbage service
Recommended bin sizes by number of units
For multi-family buildings, we estimate that each dwelling unit requires approximately 50 litres of garbage disposal capacity, based on biweekly collection.
For example, if your building has 6 dwelling units, you will need a minimum of 300 litres of garbage capacity, or one 360 litre cart.
Each building has unique requirements. Use this table as a general guideline to estimate your building's garbage needs:
If you need more or bigger bins to accommodate biweekly garbage service, order new bins by following the provided steps.
Information icon Be sure to order new bins before August 22, 2025, to get them delivered before biweekly service begins.
Your 2025 garbage fees will be calculated based on a combination of weekly and biweekly rates, adjusted for the level of service you choose, such as the number and size of bins.
Information icon Fees for larger or extra bins will not begin until September 8, 2025, even if the bin is delivered before then. We encourage property owners and strata managers to order their bins well in advance of the changeover date.
Garbage fee calculation examples
A. Upgrading to a larger bin
A property has one 240-litre garbage cart collected weekly and upgrades to a 360-litre cart to accommodate the switch to biweekly collection.
On June 1, a new 360-litre bin is delivered, and the old 240-litre bin is removed.
In this example, the 2025 garbage fee will be $331.
Detailed sample fee breakdown for 2025 garbage collection
Applied garbage utility rate
Bin size
Annual rate (2025)
Billing period
Days
Pro-rated (to nearest dollar)
Weekly
240 L (removed June 1)
$374
Jan 1 to Sept 7
250 days
$256
Biweekly
360 L (delivered June 1)
$238
Sept 8 to Dec 31
115 days
$75
Total
-
-
-
365 days
$331
B. Adding a second bin
A property has one 360-litre garbage cart collected weekly and adds a second 360-litre cart to accommodate the switch to biweekly collection. The new 360-litre bin is delivered on June 1.
In this example, the 2025 garbage fee will be $473.
Detailed sample fee breakdown for 2025 garbage collection
The latest waste audit shows that over 70% of the items in multi-family garbage could have been recycled or composted.
Benefits of sorting your waste
Separating compostable and recyclable materials from garbage helps to:
Conserve valuable resources
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Extend the lifespan of the landfill
Lower your building's disposal costs
Resources for waste reduction
Resources such as signage, posters, and guides are available to help you and your residents reduce waste and improve recycling and composting in your building.
Option 2: Choose a different service provider and opt out of the City's garbage service
If you determine that your building is not suitable for biweekly (every other week) garbage collection (for instance, because of limited space for additional bins), you will need to choose another service provider and opt out of the City’s garbage service.
Private waste collection services provide more flexibility, including options for different bin types (for example, commercial containers) and more frequent pickups.
If you choose to cancel City garbage service, adjustments to your utility bill will appear on your 2026 property tax notice. For stratas, adjustments may result in a new bill being issued.
Starting in 2026, green bin collection will switch from weekly to biweekly every January and February.
During those 2 months, your green bin will be picked up every other week on the same day as your garbage. Weekly green bin service resumes in March and continues the rest of the year. Learn why collection services are changing
Confirm your green bin pick-up schedule by entering your address in VanCollect.
Option to opt-out of City green bin service
If you determine that your building is not suited for biweekly green bin collection in January and February, you will need to opt out of City green bin service and choose a new food scraps collection service provider.
Annual adjustments to the green bin utility fee, such as adding bins, changing sizes, or canceling City service, will appear on your 2026 property tax notice. For stratas, adjustments may result in a new bill being issued.
There is no utility fee adjustment for seasonal biweekly green bin service in January and February.
