Quick answer
Surrey has three curbside carts: garbage (black), recycling (blue) and organics (green). The City says the garbage cart is only for waste that cannot be recycled or composted, such as diapers and broken glassware. The blue cart takes paper, cardboard, cartons, plastic containers and tin cans, but not plastic bags, styrofoam or glass jars. The green cart takes food scraps and yard waste, but not plastic or compostable bags, pet waste or diapers. Glass jars, batteries and electronics go to a Metro Vancouver Recycling and Waste Centre, not into a cart.
This guide is based on the City of Surrey's sorting page and its 2026 Sorting Guide and Collection Calendar, with Recycle BC and Metro Vancouver pages for the items Surrey sends to a depot. It covers what goes in each cart, what does not, and where the rest goes. For pickup days and large items, see our Surrey garbage schedule guide.
How the three carts work
The City of Surrey's sorting page uses three headings: garbage (black cart), recycling (blue cart) and organics (green cart). Organics is collected every week. Recycling and garbage are each collected every two weeks, alternating, so there is no garbage truck on your street in a recycling week and no recycling truck in a garbage week. Collection happens on all statutory holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
What goes where: quick table
| Item | Where it goes in Surrey |
|---|---|
| Food scraps (including a small amount of cooking oil, tea bags and coffee grounds) | Green organics cart |
| Leaves, grass cuttings, branch clippings, flowers | Green organics cart |
| Food-soiled paper and oily paper towel | Green organics cart |
| Newspaper, flyers, magazines, envelopes | Blue recycling cart (no books) |
| Shredded paper | Blue recycling cart, inside a paper bag (not plastic) |
| Flattened cardboard | Blue recycling cart |
| Milk, juice and ice cream cartons | Blue recycling cart |
| Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs, food containers and clamshells | Blue recycling cart (empty and rinse first) |
| Tin cans and empty aerosol spray cans | Blue recycling cart |
| Clean aluminum foil and trays, coffee cups, paper egg trays, gift wrap | Blue recycling cart (per the City's 2026 guide) |
| Diapers and used hygiene products | Black garbage cart |
| Broken glassware, broken toys, garden hoses | Black garbage cart |
| Clothing in poor condition | Black garbage cart |
| Glass jars and bottles | Not in the blue cart. Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre (free), or a Recycle BC depot |
| Plastic bags, plastic film, candy wrappers, chip bags | Not in the blue cart. Recycle BC depot for bags and film |
| Styrofoam | Not in the blue cart. Recycle BC says foam packaging goes to a depot only |
| Batteries, electronics, small appliances, light bulbs | Not in any cart. Recycling and Waste Centre or a depot |
| Paint, propane tanks, pesticides, needles, medications, liquids | Not in any cart. Hazardous waste facility |
Blue recycling cart
The City lists paper (newspaper, flyers, magazines and envelopes, but no books), shredded paper in a paper bag, cartons, flattened cardboard, plastic clamshells, food storage containers, bottles, tubs, jars and jugs, tin cans, and empty aerosol spray cans. The 2026 guide adds clean aluminum foil and trays, coffee cups, paper egg trays, gift wrap, spray bottles, coffee lids and clean single-use coffee pods.
- Rinse and empty. The City's 2026 guide says to rinse to remove food and minimize odours, to flatten material to save space, and to place materials loose in the cart, with no bags.
- No plastic bags. Surrey's pages say plastic bags are not permitted in recycling, and that shredded paper must go in a paper bag.
- Do not rely on the number on the plastic. Surrey says the numbers inside the chasing-arrows symbol are not used to decide whether something is recyclable, so check the specific item.
Green organics cart
Surrey says organics carts take yard waste and food waste, and its schedule page says to include all food scraps and yard trimmings. The City's guide lists food scraps, food-soiled paper and oily paper towel, flowers, leaves, branch clippings and grass cuttings. Metro Vancouver's regional green bin list names dairy, meat, bones, egg and seafood shells, coffee grounds, filters and paper tea bags as acceptable, and tells residents to check with their municipality.
Not allowed in the green cart: compostable or biodegradable bags, plastic bags, pet waste, diapers, dirt or sod, and lumber or building materials. The City says carts containing unacceptable materials will not be collected.
Surrey is stricter than some cities on bags. Metro Vancouver's regional page says a compostable liner is accepted in some municipalities. Surrey's pages say plastic bags are not allowed in organics, even if marked biodegradable or compostable. Use newspaper or a paper bag instead.
Black garbage cart
The City's wording is that only waste that cannot be recycled or composted goes in the garbage. Examples it gives are broken glassware, broken toys, diapers and garden hoses, plus used hygiene products. Food scraps, recycling and renovation materials do not belong in the garbage cart.
Items that go in none of the carts
The City's 2026 guide says batteries, needles and medications, paints, propane tanks, pesticides, liquids of any kind and other hazardous items are banned from all carts. They go to a Metro Vancouver Recycles facility. Call the Metro Vancouver Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or see recycling.metrovancouver.org to find where to take a specific item.
Glass
Surrey's blue cart does not accept glass jars. Recycle BC asks people to sort glass into its own container, separate from other recyclables, and to deliver it to a drop-off depot where curbside glass collection is not available. Per the City's 2026 guide, glass jars can be taken free to a Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre. Recycle BC says glass bottle and jar lids can go with plastic, metal and carton containers, and that drinking glasses, dishes, cookware, window glass, mirrors and ceramics are not accepted as recyclable glass.
Surrey states that it does not own or operate any recycling depots, so call a depot before you go.
Where the rest goes: the two Surrey Recycling and Waste Centres
- Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre: 6711 154 St
- North Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre: 9770 192 St
Both are run by Metro Vancouver. Surrey's page says electronics, metals, appliances, books, cooking oil, used motor oil and clothing can be dropped off for free at any time, and the City's 2026 guide also lists glass jars, batteries, hard plastics and scrap metal. Call 604-681-5600 or see metrovancouver.org. Our Surrey recycling depot guide has hours and fees.
What happens if a cart has the wrong things in it
Surrey says carts with unacceptable items might not be picked up. The City's stickers and postcards are educational at first, but after multiple warnings collection may be refused. Landlords are responsible for their tenants' sorting.
Check an item in the Rethink Waste app
Surrey's free Rethink Waste app has a "what goes where" look-up, collection reminders and weather-disruption updates. If an item is not listed above, check it there before you put it in a cart.
Not confirmed on Surrey's pages
We could not find official Surrey wording on pizza boxes, Christmas trees or cart lid colours. For those, use the Rethink Waste app or call the City.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put plastic bags in my recycling cart in Surrey?
No. Surrey says plastic bags are not permitted in the recycling or organics carts, even if the bag is marked biodegradable or compostable. Recycle BC says plastic bags and overwrap go to a depot unless your community collects flexible plastics at home, and Surrey does not collect them curbside.
Where do glass jars go in Surrey?
Not in the blue cart. The City says glass jars can be taken free to a Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre. Recycle BC says glass can also go to a depot or a glass-only bin.
Are pizza boxes recyclable in Surrey?
Surrey's pages do not mention pizza boxes by name. The City's guide says food-soiled paper and oily paper towel go in the organics cart. Recycle BC lists pizza boxes under cardboard and boxboard but does not address greasy ones. Check the Rethink Waste app for a ruling on a particular box.
Where do diapers go in Surrey?
In the black garbage cart. Diapers are not accepted in the green organics cart.
Can I recycle styrofoam in Surrey?
Not in the blue cart. Recycle BC says foam packaging is accepted at depots only.
Where do batteries and electronics go?
Not in any cart. Take them to a Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre or a depot. Batteries are on the City's banned-from-all-carts list.
Can I use compostable bags in the green cart?
No. Surrey says compostable and biodegradable bags are not accepted in the organics cart. Use newspaper or a paper bag.
Where can I find out where to take something not listed?
Call the Metro Vancouver Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or use the Rethink Waste app.
Official sources
- City of Surrey: Sorting recycling and waste
- City of Surrey: Waste collection carts
- City of Surrey: Sorting Guide and Collection Calendar 2026 (PDF)
- City of Surrey: Missed collection
- City of Surrey: Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centres
- City of Surrey: Rethink Waste app
- Metro Vancouver: What goes in the green bin
- Recycle BC: Glass
- Recycle BC: Foam packaging
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.