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DepartmentsGarbage, Recycling and OrganicsCurbside Garbage Collection

Curbside Garbage Collection

Garbage and Recycling Schedules

January - June 2023 General Garbage and Recycling Schedule

The City-wide route map for all five zones can be seen at the end of this page.

Schedules for solid waste and recycling collection are also available

How to take the trash out.

  • Garbage carts need to be at the curb in a visible location by 7:30 am on the morning of collection day.

  • Do not leave carts out overnight before your collection day. Smelly garbage will attract bears and other animals leading to possible conflict with humans. Don’t be that neighbour whose garbage is strewn all over the street.

  • Keep the lid on tight.

  • Carts are to be placed at the curb, arrows to the road, wheels against the curb and with minimum 1 metre (3 feet) space from any another object (including recycling containers).

  • Keep trees and vegetation pruned for access to your cart. The automated arm needs three metres (9 feet) of space above the cart for adequate clearance.

  • Carts should not obstruct vehicles or pedestrians.

  • Keep carts clean and stored on your property.

  • Only use City provided carts.

  • Large families can purchase an additional cart for weekly use or bags are collected (with a purchased $5 tag) for the one-off week you have accumulated more. No more than 4 excess bags will be accepted per visit.

  • Damaged, lost and stolen carts are the responsibility of the homeowner. Replacement fee is $80.

  • Carts should be free of prohibited waste including:

    o Hazardous Waste

    o Bulk liquids or sludge

    o Dead animals and pathological waste

    o Excrement, other than amounts of excrement that are double bagged

    o Personal hygiene products, other than amounts of products that are double bagged

    o Any material that would cause undue risk of injury or occupational disease to any person that would contravene the Occupation Health and Safety Regulations.

    o Construction materials

    o Wastes as defined in the Ministry of Environmental Landfill Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste (Second Edition) as amended from time to time.

    o Any material deemed by the Roads Supervisor as unacceptable for disposal

Garbage Tags

In most circumstances, the automated collection system does not require tags. Waste inside carts do not need a tag. Tags are only required when you have excess waste that will not fit in your cart.

Tags are five dollars each and available at:

  • City Hall

  • Powell River Recreation Complex

  • Save-on-Foods

  • FreshCo

  • Top of the Hill Solutions

  • Townsite Grocery

The City of Powell River uses an automated waste collection service. New standardized garbage collection carts (120 litres) are provided to each declared residential property. Waste carts filled with garbage are emptied by trucks fitted with automated arms, improving efficiency in service delivery, while providing safer collection for workers and reducing injuries.

Powell River residents produce about 450 kilograms of solid waste per person per year. By reducing the amount of garbage, we lower our community’s environmental impact, conserve resources, cut costs and reduce our carbon emissions.

Garbage is transported to Roosevelt Regional Landfill in Washington state. Due to the environmental impact of shipping solid waste, homeowners are encouraged to recycle and dispose of organic waste locally to cut down on the amount of garbage that is being shipped.

For more information on what is and is not accepted in the garbage stream, please visit our Waste Wise Guide online, the Waste Wizard, or the Waste Wise app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. The City of Powell River is part of the Recycle BC Provincial Program and the recycling guidelines are set by the program.