Quick answer
In Surrey, the green organics cart is picked up every week. Garbage (black cart) and recycling (blue cart) are picked up every two weeks, on alternating weeks. Put carts out by 7:30am on your collection day. Most houses can book a free Large Item Pickup for up to 6 items a year (8 with a registered secondary suite) online or by calling 604-590-7289, option 3.
This guide explains how City of Surrey waste collection works for houses and apartments. It covers the three carts, how to find your pickup day, how to book a free large item pickup, where to take things the carts do not accept, and what to do if your cart was missed or damaged.
All rules below come from the City of Surrey and Metro Vancouver websites, checked on September 25, 2026. Rules and fees can change, so check the official pages linked at the bottom before you act.
Your three carts: what goes where
Surrey uses three carts. Each one has its own colour.
- Green cart (organics): food waste and yard waste. A small amount of cooking oil, tea bags and coffee grounds are okay. No dirt, sod or pet waste.
- Blue cart (recycling): paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, tubs, jars, jugs, clamshells and food storage containers, tin cans, and empty aerosol spray cans.
- Black cart (garbage): only waste that cannot be recycled or composted. Examples: broken glassware, broken toys, diapers and garden hoses.
Some items do not go in any cart:
- Glass jars and bottles are not accepted in the blue cart. Take them to a Recycling and Waste Centre (free).
- Batteries, electronics and light bulbs need special drop-off.
- Styrofoam, plastic bags and film plastic, chip bags and candy wrappers are not accepted in the blue cart.
- Propane canisters must be taken to a drop-off site.
Safety: Batteries and propane canisters do not belong in any cart. Take them to a Recycling and Waste Centre, where they are accepted free.
Do not put plastic bags in the recycling or organics cart, even "compostable" or "biodegradable" bags. Shredded paper goes in the blue cart inside a paper bag.
Surrey collection schedule: how to find your day
Each cart has its own pickup frequency:
- Organics (green): every week.
- Recycling (blue): every two weeks.
- Garbage (black): every two weeks, on the weeks when recycling is not picked up.
To find your day and which week is which, use one of these free tools from the City:
- Download the Rethink Waste app on your phone. It shows your personal collection schedule and can send pickup reminders to your phone.
- Open the Collection Schedules page on surrey.ca. It has a collection map and the 2026 Sorting Guide and Collection Calendar.
Collection happens on all statutory holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
How to put your carts out
Most missed pickups happen because of how the cart was set out. Follow these steps:
- Put carts out by 7:30am on collection day. Trucks can come any time between 7:30am and 7:30pm, so leave carts out until they are emptied.
- Close the lid fully. Do not overfill.
- Do not pack waste down tightly. Place items loosely so they fall out when the cart is tipped.
- Leave 1 metre (3 feet) between carts and other objects.
- Keep 3 metres (10 feet) of open space above the cart, away from branches and wires.
- Keep carts 1.5 metres (5 feet) away from parked cars.
Surrey Large Item Pickup program
The City picks up some big items from the curb for free. The cost is already included in your garbage utility.
| Home type | Items per year |
|---|---|
| House with City waste collection | Up to 6 |
| House with a registered secondary suite | Up to 8 |
| Apartment building with City recycling | Up to 4 per unit |
Your count resets each year. Unused pickups do not carry over to next year.
What is accepted
Accepted items include furniture, bed frames, mattresses, tables, shelves and cabinets, patio furniture, kitchen and laundry appliances, heating and cooling units, computers and electronics, exercise equipment, bikes, baby and kids' items, power tools, and passenger car tires.
What is not accepted
Not accepted: bathtubs, toilets, carpets, fences, fireplaces, mirrors and large glass pieces, fish tanks, pianos and other musical instruments, propane tanks, Styrofoam, wood pallets, demolition materials, car bodies, commercial tires and water fountains.
How to book a large item pickup
- Book online through the City's Large Item Pickup page, or call 604-590-7289 and press 3.
- Wrap each mattress in a clear plastic bag and seal it. Free mattress bags are available at the Cart Storage Yard, 14577 66 Ave, Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.
- Put the items at your collection point by 7:30am on your pickup day. Pickup can happen any time until 7:30pm.
Need to cancel? Contact the City at least 2 business days before the pickup date. A late cancellation counts as one item against your yearly limit.
Recycling and Waste Centres in Surrey
The City of Surrey does not run its own recycling depots. Surrey has two Recycling and Waste Centres run by Metro Vancouver. Use them for things the carts and Large Item Pickup do not take.
- Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre (Newton): 6711 154 Street.
- North Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre (Port Kells): 9770 192 Street.
Many recyclables are free to drop off, including glass bottles and jars, batteries, books, electronics, metals, large appliances, paint products, used motor oil, cooking oil, clothing and propane tanks. Garbage has a fee. Garbage is charged by weight, and mattresses cost $20 each (maximum 4). See our Surrey recycling depot guide for current hours and rates.
Opening hours change with the season, and the two centres have different hours. Check the Metro Vancouver page for each centre before you drive. Metro Vancouver's phone line for both centres is 604-681-5600.
The City's page (checked September 25, 2026) lists a free drop-off promotion for Surrey residents from May 4 to September 30: the first 100 kg free, including up to four mattresses, one visit per household, with proof of Surrey residency. Check surrey.ca to see if a similar offer is running when you go.
Missed pickup, or a broken or stolen cart
If your cart was not emptied
- First check the reasons above: cart out late, lid open, packed too tight, blocked, or the wrong cart for that week.
- Check for wrong items, such as plastic bags in recycling or organics. A cart with unacceptable items may not be picked up.
- If you followed the rules, report it on the next business day. Use the City's online "Report a problem" tool or call 604-590-7289. Reports made on collection day, or more than one business day later, are not reviewed.
A missed large item pickup must be reported within 3 business days of the pickup date (604-590-7289, option 3).
If your cart is damaged or stolen
Cart orders are done by phone through the waste collection hotline, 604-590-7289. Delivery takes 1 to 5 business days. The City's listed fees are:
- Damaged cart replacement: $20
- Stolen cart: $51.50 for recycling or organics, $77.25 for garbage
- Changing to a bigger or smaller cart: $20
Each household can place only one order per year for extra carts or cart exchanges. For a one-time extra bag of garbage, the City sells pink extra garbage stickers for $5.67 at City Hall and recreation centres. Call 604-591-4181 to check they are in stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is garbage pickup in Surrey?
It depends on your address. Use the free Rethink Waste app or the collection map on the City's Collection Schedules page to see your day and whether it is a garbage week or a recycling week.
How many large items can I put out for free in Surrey?
Up to 6 items per year for a house, up to 8 for a house with a registered secondary suite, and up to 4 for an apartment unit in a building with City recycling. You must book first.
Can I put glass jars in the blue cart?
No. Glass jars are not accepted in Surrey's blue cart. Glass bottles and jars can be dropped off free at the Surrey Recycling and Waste Centres. Broken drinking glasses and dishes go in the garbage cart.
Is garbage picked up on holidays?
Yes. Collection happens on all statutory holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
My cart was missed. How long do I have to report it?
Report a missed cart on the next business day only, online or at 604-590-7289. Missed large item pickups must be reported within 3 business days.
Can I get rid of a mattress for free?
Yes, through Large Item Pickup, if you have items left in your yearly limit. The mattress must be sealed in a clear plastic bag. Free bags are available at the Cart Storage Yard, 14577 66 Ave.
Official sources
- Collection Schedules — City of Surrey
- Sorting Recycling and Waste — City of Surrey
- Large Item Pickup Program — City of Surrey
- Missed Collection — City of Surrey
- Waste Collection Carts — City of Surrey
- Rethink Waste App — City of Surrey
- Metro Vancouver's Recycling and Waste Centres — City of Surrey
- Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre — Metro Vancouver
- North Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre — Metro Vancouver
General information only, not professional advice. Rules and prices change, so check the official sources above before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.