Waste Collection

The City of Port Coquitlam provides fully automated waste collection services to more than 18,000 single-family homes, multi-family units and business properties.  The City provides specially designed carts with colour-coded lids to all properties that receive the service.

Garbage Cart Program
Blue Cart Program
Green Cart Program
Collection Schedule & Zone Map
Large item Pickup Program
Recycling Depots
Download the PoCo Sort & Report App
Where Does it Go?
Disposal Alternatives

Setting Out Carts at the Curb

Waste carts must be placed on the street prior to 7:30 am on your collection day. Make sure to remove any locks before setting your carts out at the curb.

To deter bears, put your carts out between 5:30 and 7:30 am on your collection day, and at all other times secure them with a lock or in a wildlife-resistant enclosure (e.g. a garage). Read more about bear safety.

How to Set Out Carts

  • Place carts along the edge of the road, with wheels against the curb (if there is one).
  • Place carts so they open towards the street.
  • Ensure lids are closed. (Overflowing carts may not be picked up.)
  • Ensure adequate space around carts:
    • At least 1 m (3 ft) between carts
    • 1.5m (5 ft) away from parked vehicles
    • 3 m (10 ft) above carts from overhanging objects

Don’t Be a Bear Target!

Secure Your Waste to Protect your Home and Neighbourhood

cart-lock-linkOne meal from your backyard or waste cart is enough to bring a bear back again and again. And bears are smart! If they get a meal from one garbage cart, they’ll check every cart in the neighbourhood, and teach their cubs to do the same.

Once bears associate food with humans, they can lose their natural fear of people and become aggressive. This puts you at risk and can lead to the bear being destroyed.

Did you know? Feeding bears is illegal under BC’s Wildlife Act.

New Measures

In response to rising bear activity throughout the community, the City is implemented new measures and changes to the Solid Waste Bylaw to keep neighbourhoods and bears safe, including:

  • Making free waste cart locks available for all three sizes of carts;
  • Beginning year-round weekly organics collection (eliminating the bi-weekly schedule from late fall to early spring);
  • Increasing fines from $150 to $500 for not securing garbage and green waste properly (see more below under How You Can Keep Bears Away);
  • Undertaking a bear hazard assessment, one of the criteria for Bear Smart certification; and
  • Continuing to work one-on-one with residents in areas of high bear activity to educate them on storage and locking options.

Other Information

Set-out/Set-back Service

If you have difficulty moving the carts to your collection point, you may apply for set-out/set-back service. If your application is approved, City crews will move your carts to the collection point and return them at the end of the collection day. Download the set-out/set-back service form. For more information, contact Public Works at 604.927.5496.

Missed Collections

If your waste has not been collected as scheduled, contact Public Works at 604.927.5496 to report the missed collection.

Collection Changes During Cold Weather

Collection Services in Snow and Ice

In the event of hazardous road conditions due to snow and/or ice, the City may find it necessary, in the interest of public safety, to temporarily cancel garbage, green cart or recycling collection.

If this occurs, notifications will be posted on the PoCo Waste-line app, on the City’s social media channels, at portcoquitlam.ca/snow and aired on local radio stations CKNW AM 980, CKWX 1130 and CBC (690).

In the event of cancelled collections, City crews will continue to collect the waste for the missed zone(s) after the next day’s collection zone is completed. In extreme conditions it may require several days of collection to fully service the affected zone(s).

The City appreciates your patience and cooperation should this occur.

Collection Changes During Cold Weather:

When overnight temperatures dip below zero, the City may pick up green carts later in the day than usual to allow the contents to thaw.

Damaged or Stolen Carts

If your carts have been damaged or go missing, contact 604.927.5496 to arrange for repair and/or a replacement cart.

Cart Sizes and Changes

Depending on the property and needs of the household, carts are provided in 120L, 240L or 360L sizes.

Larger or extra carts are available for a fee. Contact the Engineering & Public Works Department at 604.927.5420 for more information. Click here to download a Service Level Change form.

Secondary Suite Service

If you have a secondary suite, and pay the additional levy, you may qualify for additional service. To find out more, contact 604.927.5496. Click here to download a Secondary Suite Disability Exemption Form.

Contact

Tel: 604.927.5496
Email  publicworks@portcoquitlam.ca

Location and Mailing Address

Public Works 1737 Broadway Street Port Coquitlam BC V3C 2M9

7:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays)