Green Carts
Separate your waste into one of three waste streams: Garbage, Green Waste, and Recycling. On this page learn what materials are accepted in your city-issued Green Carts. Use the Waste Wizard tool below to easily search for specific items and learn what to do with extra garbage or yard waste.
Acceptable Materials
These materials CAN go into your Green Cart:
- Dairy products
- Egg shells
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Meat, bones, fish, and seafood
- Noodles, rice, beans, and grains
- Small amounts of oil and fat (soaked in paper towel or newspaper)
- Teabags, coffee grounds, and filters
- Paper napkins/towels
- Parchment paper, wax paper, and waxed cardboard
- Pizza Boxes – Food soiled and or heavily greased pizza boxes go into the green cart. Pizza boxes that are clean or with minimal grease should go into the cardboard recycling.
- Empty cereal boxes or newspaper (for wrapping food scraps or lining kitchen containers)
- Paper bags (for lining kitchen containers, such as Bag-to-Earth)
- Paper plates (no plastic coating)
- Leaves and grass clippings
- Short branches and prunings (under 10 cm thick and 50 cm long)
- Weeds, plants, and flowers
Unacceptable Materials
These materials CANNOT be placed in your Green Cart as they contaminate and degrade the quality of the finished compost:
- Plastics / Plastic bags
- Any plastic product even those labelled “compostable”, “biodegradable”, or “PLA (Polylactic Acid)”
- Pet waste
- Animal feces
- Kitty litter
- Large branches, tree stumps, or lumber
- Rocks, soil, or sod
What to do with Extra Yard Waste
- United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre - Coquitlam residents can drop off residential quantities of yard trimmings and food waste for free, year-round. See program guidelines and restrictions.
- Seasonal Unlimited Yard Trimmings Collection - 6 weeks every spring and 6 weeks every fall the City will collect additional yard waste on your regular collection day.
Missed Collections
If your carts are not collected by 7:30 pm, please bring them inside and contact Waste Connections of Canada in the morning to report the missed collection. Carts left at the curb overnight will attract wildlife and you risk receiving a fine of $500.
If you missed your collection, please contact Waste Connections of Canada by email or call 604-636-3520.
Bylaws
- Do not place your cart out the night before collection. Doing so may result in a $500 fine.
- Do not place any type of plastic bag in the Green Cart, including those labelled “biodegradable” or “compostable”. Doing so may result in missed collection or a $150 fine.
Green Cart Options
The size and number of green carts at your property will not impact the annual garbage utility fee. Additional green carts can also be purchased for a one-time fee depending on the size of cart you choose. Please visit our Cart Repairs and Replacements page for information.
Wildlife Resistant Enclosures
If you are unable to store your carts in a secure area like a garage, a wildlife resistant enclosure can be used to secure solid waste and prevent wildlife from accessing attractants. Enclosures should be strong enough to withstand the weight and strength of a 600-pound animal. Please keep in mind that odours from solid waste can still attract wildlife, and you should continue to freeze food waste and keep carts clean to reduce smells.
Wildlife enclosures can include heavy-duty sheds, chain link fencing or prefabricated metal storage lockers/containers. A wildlife resistant enclosure is defined in the Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 4679, 2016 as “a fully enclosed structure consisting of wall, roof, and door of sufficient design and strength so as to be capable of keeping its contents inaccessible to wildlife.”
When choosing a wildlife resistant enclosure, consider the following:
- Hinges and latches should be strong enough that they cannot be pried open by claws, and the trigger on the latch should be inaccessible to wildlife. Mount heavy duty hinges to the inside of the enclosure.
- The material should be strong enough that wildlife cannot bite through, bend or crush the enclosure.
- Wooden enclosures should use plywood that is at least 5/9” thick, 2x4 construction, and screws instead of nails.
- There should be no seams that claws can get into. Seams can be covered with metal flashing.
- Enclosures should be designed without any overhangs that claws can grab.
- The enclosure should be anchored to a stationary base to prevent tipping.
- The enclosure should have a roof/lid.
There are many companies that provide wildlife resistant enclosures. Please reach out to Urban Wildlife staff for product recommendations.