The City of New Westminster collects residential garbage every two weeks. Check the Collection Schedule (PDF) to find your collection day.
Preparing Your Garbage Cart
To help make sure your garbage is collected:
- Place garbage inside your cart.
- Do not overfill your cart. The lid must close completely.
- Do not pack garbage too tightly. Materials can get stuck and prevent the cart from emptying.
- Keep hazardous materials and items that require special disposal out of your cart.
Not sure where something goes? Use the What Goes Where? search tool below to find out how to recycle or dispose of an item.
What Goes in My Garbage Cart?
Your garbage cart is for household waste that cannot be reused, recycled or collected through the City's food scraps program.
Common examples include:
- Diapers, facial tissues and personal hygiene products.
- Broken drinking glasses and ceramics.
- Non-recyclable packaging.
- Other household items that cannot be reused or recycled.
Before Throwing Something Away
Some materials should be taken to a recycling depot or donation centre instead of being placed in your garbage cart.
These include:
- Clothing and shoes: Donate items that are clean and in good condition. Check local textile recycling options for items that cannot be worn.
- Flexible plastic packaging: Take accepted plastic bags, wrappers and other flexible plastics to a participating depot.
- Reusable bags: Reuse or donate bags that are still in good condition.
Use the What Goes Where? search tool to check how to dispose of an item.
What Doesn't Go in Your Garbage Cart?
Some materials cannot be collected with regular household garbage because they require special handling or disposal.
Do not place the following items in your garbage cart:
- Construction and demotion waste: Gypsum, concrete, lumber, asphalt and renovation materials.
- Electronics: Televisions, computers and other electronic devices.
- Light bulbs: Including fluorescent bulbs and other bulbs requiring special recycling.
- Scrap metal: Metal items that can be taken to a recycling facility.
- Tree stumps, soil, rocks and sod: These materials require separate disposal.
- Medications: Return unused or expired medications to a participating pharmacy.
- Hazardous Materials: Including batteries, propane canisters and flammable liquids that require special recycling.
Many of these items can be recycled or disposed of at designated facilities.
Use the What Goes Where? search tool to find the appropriate disposal location.
Hazardous Materials
Never put hazardous materials in your garbage cart.
Hazardous materials can cause fires, explosions or injuries to collection workers. Garbage carts containing hazardous materials may not be collected.
Examples include:
- Propane and butane cylinders, including disposable cylinders.
- Lithium batteries.
- Lighter fluid and other flammable liquids.
- Medical needles and other sharps, such as knives.
- Pesticides and other hazardous household chemicals.
These materials require special handling and disposal.
Use the What Goes Where? search tool to find a collection location that accepts your hazardous materials.
Do not place hazardous materials in your recycling or food scraps carts.
Extra Garbage: Tag-a-Bag
Have more garbage than will fit in your cart?
The City's Tag-a-Bag program allows residents to place additional bags of garbage out for collection by purchasing a garbage tag.
How It Works
- Purchase a Tag-a-Bag garbage tag for $5 per bag.
- Attach one tag to each extra garbage bag.
- On your scheduled garbage collection day, place the tagged bags on top of your garbage cart or together at least one metre away from the cart.
- Make sure each bag weighs less than 50 pounds (23 kilograms).
Where to Buy Garbage Tags
- City Hall
- Century House
- təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
- Queensborough Community Centre
Important Reminders
- Extra garbage is collected only on scheduled garbage collection days.
- Each additional bag must have its own tag.
- Hazardous materials and other prohibited items are not accepted.
Special Pick Up Service
Have a large household item that won't fit in your garbage cart?
Some bulky items may qualify for the City's Special Pick-up Service. Learn more about Special Pick-up Service, including accepted items, collection requirements and how to arrange pickup.