Quick answer
White Rock picks up recycling (Blue Box, Red Box, Yellow Bag) and the Green Can every week. Garbage is picked up every second week. Your day depends on your colour zone (blue, yellow, red or green). On a normal week, those zones are collected Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Put everything out by 7 a.m. City collection is only for homes zoned one-, two- or three-unit residential. The City has no large item pickup.
This guide covers City of White Rock waste collection: who gets City pickup, how to read the zone map and calendar, holiday weeks, bulky items and missed pickups.
All details come from the City of White Rock website (including its 2026 Waste Collection Calendar and Service Zone Map), Metro Vancouver and Return-It, checked on September 25, 2026. Check the official pages at the bottom before you act.
Who gets City collection in White Rock
The City only collects waste from properties zoned "One Unit Residential," "Two Unit Residential" or "Three Unit Residential." In practice, that means houses, duplexes and triplexes. Apartment buildings, larger multi-family properties and businesses are not on City curbside collection. If you live in a strata or apartment building, ask your strata council or property manager how pickup works in your building.
If you live in an eligible home, you need to register for service. Call the Engineering and Municipal Operations Department at 604-541-2181, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
How to find your White Rock garbage day
- Open the Service Zone Map on the City's Waste Collection Schedule & Service Zones page. Find your home. You will be in one of four colour zones, and each zone is marked with either a circle or a square.
- Open the 2026 Waste Collection Calendar on the same page. Find the days in your colour.
- Put out your Blue Box, Red Box, Yellow Bag and Green Can on your colour's day every week.
- Put out your garbage only on weeks when your colour's day shows your symbol (circle or square). Circle and square weeks take turns.
Zone lines follow specific streets, so always find your own home on the map.
Garbage weeks for the rest of 2026
From the City's 2026 calendar:
| Symbol | Garbage weeks |
|---|---|
| Square zones | Sep 28 to Oct 2, Oct 13 to 16, Oct 27 to 30, Nov 9 to 13, Nov 24 to 27, Dec 8 to 11, Dec 21 to 24 |
| Circle zones | Oct 6 to 9, Oct 20 to 23, Nov 3 to 6, Nov 17 to 20, Dec 1 to 4, Dec 15 to 18, Dec 29 to Jan 2 |
Holiday weeks
There is no collection on statutory holidays. In holiday weeks, the calendar moves some zones to a different day. Usually the day moves earlier, sometimes onto a Monday. Here are the holiday weeks left in 2026:
- Week of September 28 (Sept 30 is a holiday): Blue on Monday Sept 28, Yellow on Tuesday Sept 29, Red on Thursday Oct 1, Green on Friday Oct 2.
- Thanksgiving (Monday Oct 12): no change, because nobody is collected on Mondays.
- Week of November 9 (Nov 11 is a holiday): Blue on Monday Nov 9, Yellow on Tuesday Nov 10, Red on Thursday Nov 12, Green on Friday Nov 13.
- Christmas week: Blue on Monday Dec 21, Yellow on Tuesday Dec 22, Red on Wednesday Dec 23, Green on Thursday Dec 24. No collection Dec 25.
- New Year week (Dec 28 and Jan 1 are marked as holidays): Blue on Tuesday Dec 29, Yellow on Wednesday Dec 30, Red on Thursday Dec 31, Green on Saturday Jan 2.
Containers and what goes where
White Rock uses a mixed system. The City gives out recycling containers for free, but you supply your own Green Can and garbage bin. Crews lift everything by hand, so each container must be no more than 110 litres and 22 kg (50 lbs).
| Container | What goes in it | How often | Limit per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Box | Containers: metal, plastic, plastic-lined paper | Weekly | 2 boxes |
| Red Box | Glass, clear and coloured | Weekly | 2 boxes |
| Yellow Bag | Clean, dry mixed paper | Weekly | 2 bags |
| Green Can | Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste | Weekly | 2 cans plus up to 8 kraft paper bags |
| Garbage bin | Only trash that fits no other stream, in a garbage bag | Every second week | 2 bins |
- Blue Boxes, Red Boxes and Yellow Bags are free at any City facility.
- Green Can stickers are free, up to two per unit. Get them through the City's stickers form, by emailing finance@whiterockcity.ca, or by calling 604-541-2148.
- Extra Garbage Stickers cost $5.60 each plus GST and PST, through the same form, email or phone number. Put your extra trash in a garbage bag and stick one sticker on each bag.
- Line garbage bins with a garbage bag (up to 26" x 36") and tie it closed on collection day. Loose trash may not be collected.
- Rinse food and drink containers. Wrap food scraps in newspaper, paper towel or a paper bag. Do not use any plastic bag, even a "compostable" one.
Setting out your containers
- Put everything out by 7 a.m. on collection day, even if the bin is not full.
- Leave at least 1 metre (3 feet) of space on all sides. Group the same kinds of containers together.
- Place the Yellow Bag between your Red Box and Blue Box, not inside them.
- Take off any bungee cords or straps you use to keep animals out.
- Bring containers back in as soon as you can after pickup.
Tip: Crews are not allowed to pull wrong items out of a container. If a box has too much of the wrong material, it will be left behind with a notice sticker. The whole truckload can also be rejected at the recycling facility.
Large items, extra waste and drop-offs
White Rock does not have a large item pickup. Take bulky, hazardous and hard-to-recycle items to a depot. Here are the nearby sites the City lists:
- Semiahmoo Bottle Depot: #28, 15515 24 Ave, White Rock, 604-531-7669. Return-It lists it as open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and closed on holidays. It accepts beverage containers, electronics, small appliances, batteries, lights, paint, smoke detectors, used oil and antifreeze, and packaging and paper.
- White Rock Return-It Depot: 3221 140 St, Surrey, 778-294-9919. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and closed on holidays, per Return-It.
- Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre (Metro Vancouver): 6711 154 St, Surrey, 604-681-5600. From October 1 to March 31 it is open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed December 25 and January 1. Garbage costs $182 per tonne (under 1 tonne), and mattresses cost $20 each (maximum 4).
- Vancouver Landfill: 5400 72 St, Delta, 604-873-7000. The City lists it as an alternative for extra trash.
Not sure where something goes? Call the Recycling Council of BC hotline at 604-732-9253.
Safety: Batteries, paint, propane and other hazardous items never go in any curbside container. Take them to a depot that accepts them.
Live in Surrey? Surrey uses City carts and offers free large item pickup. See our Surrey garbage schedule and large item pickup guide.
Missed or rejected pickup
- Look for a notice sticker. It explains why your container was left: too heavy, too large, contaminated or not set out properly.
- If there is no sticker, check the calendar to make sure it was your day. Also check that your containers were out by 7 a.m. and could be seen from the street.
- If everything was right and your containers are still full after 4:30 p.m., call Engineering and Municipal Operations at 604-541-2181 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
To report illegal dumping, call Bylaw at 604-541-2146 or submit a Request for Service online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is garbage pickup in White Rock?
It depends on your colour zone. On a normal week, blue zones are collected Tuesday, yellow Wednesday, red Thursday and green Friday. Garbage goes out every second week, on your circle or square weeks.
Is garbage picked up every week in White Rock?
No. Garbage is picked up every second week. Recycling and the Green Can are picked up every week.
Does White Rock provide garbage cans?
No. You supply your own garbage bin and Green Can (max 110 L and 22 kg each). Blue Boxes, Red Boxes and Yellow Bags are free at City facilities.
Does the City pick up garbage from apartments and condos?
No. City collection is only for properties zoned one-, two- or three-unit residential. Ask your strata or building manager about your building's service.
Does White Rock have large item pickup?
No. Take large and special items to a depot, such as the Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre.
How do I get extra garbage picked up?
Buy Extra Garbage Stickers ($5.60 each plus GST and PST) by calling 604-541-2148 or emailing finance@whiterockcity.ca. Stick one on each extra bag.
Official sources
- Waste Collection Schedule & Service Zones — City of White Rock
- Waste Collection Service & Containers — City of White Rock
- Missed Collection or Issues — City of White Rock
- Trash & Garbage — City of White Rock
- Organics & Food Scraps — City of White Rock
- Products, Packaging & Recyclables — City of White Rock
- Large & Special Items — City of White Rock
- Waste Collection FAQs — City of White Rock
- Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre — Metro Vancouver
- Semiahmoo Bottle Depot — Return-It
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.