North Vancouver Garbage Day, Green Can & Recycling Schedule 2026
This guide is built like a local resident’s working checklist: what to put out, when to put it out, who to call when pickup is missed, what goes in each bin, what apartment residents should do, what new movers usually get wrong, and where to take items the curbside truck will not collect.
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North Vancouver trash pickup schedule garbage collection depends on your address zone. A1/A2 are Monday, B1/B2 are Tuesday, C1/C2 are Wednesday and D1/D2 are Thursday. Recycling, Green Can and yard trimmings are weekly. Garbage is every other week, so the number in your zone matters.
Put materials out between 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM on collection day, not the night before. Garbage and Green Can missed pickup goes to City Operations. Recycling missed pickup, yellow bags, blue boxes and grey boxes go to Emterra.
North Vancouver Trash Pickup Day Lookup — Find Your Exact Zone Before You Put Anything Out
The biggest mistake residents make is checking only the weekday and missing the number. Your zone has a letter and a number. The letter tells you the weekday. The number tells you the alternating garbage week. Weekly materials do not care about the number. Garbage does.
For example, if you are in C1, Wednesday is your regular curbside day, but your garbage goes out only on C1 garbage weeks. On the other Wednesdays, you may still put out Green Can, yard trimmings and recycling, but garbage should stay stored.
Fastest resident path: Open the City curbside page, use CityCollect or the 2026 PDF, confirm your zone, then save the reminder. Do not rely on a neighbour unless they are in the same numbered zone.
Open Official ScheduleWhat CityCollect helps with: schedule lookup, collection reminders, what-goes-where sorting help, and preparation notes for recycling, Green Can and garbage. Use it before holiday weeks and whenever you are unsure whether an item goes curbside or to a depot.
North Vancouver Pickup Morning Checklist — What I Would Check Before Walking Outside
If you are a local resident, you do not need a long government page first. You need to know whether today is the correct day, which container goes out, whether the bin is too heavy, and who to contact if something goes wrong. Use this checklist before 7:30 AM.
- Confirm your A/B/C/D weekday and 1/2 garbage week.
- Put Green Can and recycling out weekly.
- Put garbage out only on your bi-weekly garbage week.
- Use 77 L garbage and Green Can containers with fitted, non-hinged lids.
- Keep each can, bag or bundle under 20 kg.
- Place materials in a straight line, side-by-side, not stacked.
- Your garbage may be collected by a private hauler, not City curbside trucks.
- Ask your strata, landlord or building manager for the building garbage room rules.
- Use building recycling carts for paper, containers and glass.
- Most multi-family Green bins accept food scraps and food-soiled paper.
- Yard waste is usually not accepted in multi-family Green bins unless your building confirms it.
- Do not copy single-family curbside rules if your building uses central carts.
Practical local tip: Label your cans, blue box, grey box and yellow bag with your address. After collection, containers can move, blow into a neighbour’s area, or get mixed up near lanes and shared curbs. Address labels prevent a small weekly headache.
North Vancouver A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2 D1 D2 Zones — How the Schedule Actually Works
The collection zone system is easy once you split it in two. The letter is the weekday. The number is the alternating garbage week. Weekly materials do not care about the number. Garbage does.
| Zone | Collection Day | Put Out Weekly | Put Out Every Other Week | Resident Mistake to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 / A2 | Monday | Recycling, Green Can, yard trimmings | Garbage only on A1 or A2 marked dates | Thinking all Monday homes have the same garbage week. |
| B1 / B2 | Tuesday | Recycling, Green Can, yard trimmings | Garbage only on B1 or B2 marked dates | Putting garbage out every Tuesday. |
| C1 / C2 | Wednesday | Recycling, Green Can, yard trimmings | Garbage only on C1 or C2 marked dates | Assuming Green Can pickup means garbage should also go. |
| D1 / D2 | Thursday | Recycling, Green Can, yard trimmings | Garbage only on D1 or D2 marked dates | Missing holiday adjustments and year-end schedule changes. |
Best setup: Add two recurring reminders in your phone. One weekly reminder for Green Can and recycling, and one every-other-week reminder for garbage. CityCollect is better than a manual calendar because it also helps with holiday changes and item sorting.
North Vancouver 2026 Holiday Trash Pickup Schedule — Dates When Garbage or Green Can Pickup Can Change
The 2026 calendar marks holidays where there is no garbage or Green Can pickup. The practical problem is that recycling is managed separately by Recycle BC’s contractor, so do not assume all three streams follow the exact same adjustment. When a holiday is near your route day, open CityCollect or the PDF calendar before putting anything out.
| Holiday / Closure Date | 2026 Date | Day | What a Resident Should Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1, 2026 | Thursday | Check D-zone year-start schedule before setting out garbage or Green Can. |
| Family Day | February 16, 2026 | Monday | A-zone homes should check the adjusted date in CityCollect. |
| Good Friday | April 3, 2026 | Friday | No normal Monday-Thursday zone, but confirm if reminders show changes. |
| Victoria Day | May 18, 2026 | Monday | A-zone homes should verify the holiday week schedule. |
| Canada Day | July 1, 2026 | Wednesday | C-zone homes should check pickup adjustment before 7:30 AM. |
| BC Day | August 3, 2026 | Monday | A-zone homes affected; confirm exact date. |
| Labour Day | September 7, 2026 | Monday | Monday routes should check the adjusted schedule. |
| National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | September 30, 2026 | Wednesday | C-zone homes should confirm CityCollect reminders. |
| Thanksgiving Day | October 12, 2026 | Monday | A-zone homes should check the holiday adjustment. |
| Remembrance Day | November 11, 2026 | Wednesday | C-zone homes should confirm CityCollect reminders. |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Friday | Confirm final year-end notes before relying on normal patterns. |
| Boxing Day Observed | December 28, 2026 | Monday | A-zone homes must check the exact pickup date. |
Local confusion warning: City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver and City of Vancouver are different collection systems. A holiday notice from one municipality can be wrong for your home.
North Vancouver Garbage Collection Rules — What Goes in Garbage, What Gets Refused and How Extra Tags Work
Garbage is the smallest part of the system because most materials should go to Green Can, recycling, depot drop-off or a take-back program. The City lists only a few common examples for garbage, such as kitty litter, broken dishes, clingwrap, diapers and wipes.
- Maximum of two 77 L garbage cans per address.
- Maximum 20 kg per can.
- Use a cylindrical, watertight can.
- Use a fitted, non-hinged lid.
- Do not use clips, bungee cords, rope or straps.
- Place 1 metre away from parked vehicles where possible.
- Food scraps and yard trimmings.
- Blue box, grey box or yellow bag recyclables.
- Electronics, batteries, light fixtures and small appliances.
- Paint, pesticides, solvents, propane tanks, used oil and antifreeze.
- Furniture, mattresses and oversized items.
- Drywall, clean wood and renovation material.
- Dirt, rocks, sod, biomedical waste, medications and explosives.
Extra Garbage Tags in North Vancouver
If you have more garbage than the two-can limit, buy extra garbage tags for $6. The 2026 guide says residents can email eng@cnv.org or visit City Hall. This matters after moving, parties, renovation cleanups and holiday weeks.
Real-world rule: Extra garbage without a tag can look like a missed pickup, but it usually is not. Before reporting a missed garbage collection, check whether the extra item needed a tag, belonged at the depot, was too heavy, or was placed out on the wrong garbage week.
North Vancouver Green Can Pickup — Food Scraps, Yard Trimmings, Bundles and Odour Control
Green Can pickup is weekly. It covers food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings for curbside homes. The weekly Green Can limit is six total Green Cans, kraft bags and bundles, with a maximum of 20 kg per can, bag or bundle.
- Food scraps.
- Food-soiled paper.
- Leaves and yard trimmings.
- Kraft paper bags with folded tops for yard trimmings.
- Twigs and branches bundled with biodegradable string or twine.
- Maximum bundle length: 1 metre.
- Maximum bundle diameter: 30 cm.
- Maximum branch thickness: 7.5 cm.
- Do not use wire, nylon rope or plastic strapping.
- Keep kraft yard bags dry until collection day.
Plastic bag warning: No plastic, biodegradable plastic or compostable plastic bags, cutlery, containers or packaging belong in the Green Can. This is one of the fastest ways to contaminate a load and create collection problems.
How to Keep Green Can Smell Down
North Vancouver Waste Video Guide — Green Can “Stick to 6” Rule
This official City of North Vancouver video is useful because it explains the weekly Green Can, yard bag and bundle limit in a quick visual format. It supports the Green Can guidance above, especially for residents who are cleaning up leaves, branches, yard trimmings or extra organics after a busy week.
Best for: Homeowners, new residents, renters in curbside homes, and residents unsure how many Green Cans, kraft bags or yard bundles can go out on one collection day.
This video supports the practical guidance in this article. For exact pickup dates, holiday changes, missed collection, bins, fees, tags, depot hours, and service alerts, residents should still verify details through the official City of North Vancouver or waste authority links above.
North Vancouver Recycling Pickup — Yellow Bag, Blue Box, Grey Box and Emterra Help
Recycling is weekly, but it is managed separately from garbage. Recycle BC manages curbside recycling, and Emterra collects it. That means recycling container issues and missed recycling reports do not go to City Operations.
Use for paper and cardboard. Flatten cardboard and keep it clean and dry. Do not stuff wet food-soiled paper here; that belongs in Green Can if accepted.
Use for metal and plastic containers. Rinse containers and flatten plastic milk jugs when possible to save space.
Use for glass containers. Put lids in the Blue Box, not in the Grey Box. Keep glass separate so it is easier and safer to handle.
Need a yellow bag, blue box or grey box? Contact Emterra at 778-589-3221 or email NV.CSR@emterra.ca.
Email EmterraRecycling Mistakes That Slow Pickup
- Putting glass in the Blue Box instead of the Grey Box.
- Putting lids in the Grey Box instead of the Blue Box.
- Leaving cardboard too large instead of flattening and cutting it down.
- Mixing garbage, food scraps or depot-only materials into recycling.
- Calling the City for recycling containers instead of Emterra.
North Vancouver Apartment, Condo and Townhome Waste Rules — What to Ask Your Landlord or Strata
If you live in an apartment, condo, rental suite, strata townhome or multi-family building, do not assume single-family curbside pickup rules apply. Many apartments and condos use private garbage collection and shared building carts. Your building manager or strata may control the garbage room layout, pickup days and access rules.
- Which room or outdoor area is for garbage?
- Which carts are for paper, containers and glass?
- Does the building have a Green bin for food scraps?
- Does the Green bin accept yard waste or only food scraps and food-soiled paper?
- Who handles bulky item disposal?
- Are move-out items allowed anywhere, or must residents arrange depot disposal?
- Keep a small food scraps container under the sink or in the fridge.
- Use one box or basket inside your unit to gather recyclables.
- Rinse containers before taking them to the shared cart.
- Flatten cardboard boxes before putting them in the building recycling area.
- Take items not collected in your building to a depot.
Move-out warning: A mattress, sofa, broken desk or bagged clutter left in a garbage room can create a chargeback from the strata or landlord. Ask first. If there is no building bulky-item program, use the North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre or another approved disposal option.
Missed Trash Pickup North Vancouver — Diagnose the Problem Before You Call
A missed pickup is frustrating, but the correct next step depends on what was missed. Garbage and Green Can go to City Operations. Recycling goes to Emterra. Before calling, check whether it was really missed or whether the set-out broke a rule.
Was it the correct garbage week?
Garbage is every other week. If your Green Can and recycling were collected but the garbage was left, first check whether your address was on the correct numbered garbage week.
Was it out between 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM?
Material placed out too late is not a missed pickup. Material placed out overnight can become a wildlife issue and may be scattered before crews arrive.
Was the can too heavy or incorrectly prepared?
Check the 20 kg limit, 77 L container size, bungee/clip rule, branch bundle size, and whether the material was actually allowed in that stream.
Call the right provider
Call City Operations at 604-987-7155 for missed garbage or Green Can. Call Emterra at 778-589-3221 for missed recycling or replacement recycling containers.
| Problem | Most Likely Reason | Who to Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage left behind | Wrong bi-weekly garbage week, too heavy, extra untagged garbage, or unacceptable item. | City Operations 604-987-7155 |
| Green Can left behind | Plastic contamination, overweight can, too many cans/bags/bundles, or wrong set-out time. | City Operations 604-987-7155 |
| Blue box / yellow bag / grey box left behind | Wrong sorting, container issue, blocked access or contractor issue. | Emterra 778-589-3221 |
| Furniture or mattress left behind | Oversized item not accepted in regular garbage. | Depot or approved disposal facility |
North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre — What to Do With Items the Curbside Truck Will Not Take
When an item does not belong in garbage, Green Can or recycling, the next step is usually a depot, Return-It location, take-back program or paid disposal area. The North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre is at 30 Riverside Drive West, North Vancouver, with separate entrances for recycling and other drop-offs.
- Batteries and cell phones.
- Electronics and small appliances.
- Paint products and solvents.
- Propane tanks.
- Styrofoam and flexible plastic packaging.
- Scrap metal and many appliances.
- Mattresses.
- New and used gypsum / drywall.
- Green waste.
- Clean wood.
- Renovation material.
- Large bulky household items.
Before loading your car: Check the depot page, hours, lineup cameras, accepted material and possible fees. Rules, payment methods and accepted materials can change.
Open Depot GuideDepot Map — 30 Riverside Drive West
North Vancouver Wildlife Garbage Rules — Bear, Raccoon and Rodent Problems Start With Bad Set-Out Habits
North Vancouver is not a place where you can casually leave food scraps at the curb overnight. The City tells residents to store curbside materials securely until collection day, freeze smelly food scraps, clean containers and put materials out only during the morning set-out window.
- Store bins indoors or in a secure enclosure until collection day.
- Freeze smelly scraps like chicken and fish until pickup morning.
- Wash containers with mild detergent or water and vinegar.
- Keep bins closed and secured while stored.
- Put items out only between 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM.
- Do not put bins out the night before.
- Do not leave food scraps loose in an open can.
- Do not leave extra bags beside bins without checking tag rules.
- Do not use bungee cords or clips that block crews from emptying cans.
- Do not let pet waste, meat scraps or fish scraps sit loose for days.
Bear or wildlife concern: The North Shore Bear Hotline is 604-990-BEAR (2327). For urgent wildlife conflict, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277. Call 911 for immediate danger.
Related Trash Pickup Guides — More Canadian, Holiday and Bulk Collection Help
Use these related trash-pickup.org guides when you want to compare how other cities handle holiday delays, bulk items, recycling rules, depot drop-off and address-based pickup tools. These links also help residents move between similar pickup problems instead of landing on a dead-end page.
Internal-link note: After publishing, link back to this North Vancouver guide from Canadian trash pickup pages, holiday schedule posts, depot/drop-off guides and recycling-related posts to reduce orphan-page risk.
North Vancouver Trash Pickup FAQ — Local Questions Residents Actually Ask
Source Verification and Editorial Note
Independent information guide — not affiliated with the City of North Vancouver. trash-pickup.org is a public information resource. We do not operate garbage trucks, recycling pickup, Green Can service, CityCollect, Emterra recycling, or the North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre.
Pickup rules, contacts, set-out timing, container limits, recycling contacts, Green Can rules, depot details, official video availability and wildlife guidance were checked against official City of North Vancouver and related official resources as of May 2026. Routes can change because of holidays, weather, service notices, contractor updates or municipal changes. Always verify on official pages before acting.
Official Sources — Verified May 2026
- City of North Vancouver — Garbage, Green Can & Recycling
- City of North Vancouver — Curbside Collection
- City of North Vancouver — 2026 Curbside Collection Guide PDF
- City of North Vancouver — Garbage Rules
- City of North Vancouver — Green Can / Food Scraps
- City of North Vancouver — Recycling
- City of North Vancouver — Multi-Family Collection
- City of North Vancouver — North Shore Recycling & Waste Centre
- City of North Vancouver — CityCollect App
- City of North Vancouver — Wildlife Awareness
- City of North Vancouver — Stick to 6 Green Waste Bylaw Video
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