COQUITLAM, B.C., October 10, 2025 – Coquitlam residents who receive curbside waste collection from the City are reminded to never place hazardous waste in their curbside collection carts or recycling containers. Residents can use the City’s Waste Wizard search tool to find convenient, free, drop-off locations for these and other recycleable materials.

Hazardous Waste Can Cause Damage, Fires and Harm

Over the last few months there have been several instances of hazardous materials being disposed of incorrectly in Garbage and Green Carts. For example, used motor oil was placed in a Garbage Cart and was splashed on the hot truck engine causing smoke, and could have lead to a fire. 

Hazardous items such as electronic waste, used batteries, propane tanks, engine oil, flammable automobile fluids and more can cause fires or explosions, and put drivers of waste collection vehicles and the public at significant risk.

These products are banned from disposal in landfills and, therefore, cannot go into your Garbage Cart, Green Cart, or curbside recycling. Improper disposal is not only dangerous it also has potential to release harmful chemicals into our environment. 

Fines

Residents can and will be fined up to $500 for putting banned materials in their garbage collection, as outlined in Coquitlam's Solid Waste Management Bylaw 4679, 2016.

Recycling Location Options

Residents have several recycling options in Coquitlam, including the Metro Vancouver-funded United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre (995 United Boulevard), which accepts a wide range of materials from hazardous waste items to food scraps and yard trimmings at no cost to residents. There are also additional Return-It Depots and other facilities across the City. To learn more, visit coquitlam.ca/recycling.

Download the Curbside Collection App 

The Coquitlam Curbside Collection app is available to download on Apple or Android smartphones, and residents can also sign-up for weekly reminders at coquitlam.ca/SeparateYourWaste. 

Services available in the app:

• Use the Waste Wizard search tool to find out where to donate, recycle or dispose of your items, including free and local recycling drop-off options.
• Get details about Garbage and Green Cart collection, including setout and separation guidelines. 
• Find helpful contact information and answers to frequently asked questions.
• Set up email or phone call reminders for your collection day, which is particularly handy when collection day shifts following statutory holidays or due to a service disruption. 
• Print a personalized collection schedule.
• Receive reminders for upcoming events such as seasonal unlimited yard trimmings collection, City-Wide Garage Sale and Giveaway, Repair Cafés and more.

Questions for Solid Waste Operations? Call 604-927-4300 or email wastereduction@coquitlam.ca. 

Curbside Recycling

• Curbside recycling collection is a service provided at no cost to residents by Recycle BC, the not-for-profit organization responsible for residential packaging and paper product recycling throughout British Columbia. 
• Residents looking for information about curbside recycling and their recycling collection schedule in Coquitlam can visit recyclebc.ca/coquitlam.

Media contact:

Julie Kanya
Environmental Education and Enforcement Manager
604-927-4300
wastereduction@coquitlam.ca 

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.