Missed Collection

Curbside collection occurs between 7:30am and 7:30pm. Please note that collection times may vary week to week, and routes can change without notice.

Garbage, recycling, and organics are collected by different trucks, which often arrive at different times throughout the day.

Why collection times may vary:

• Traffic delays
• Road closures or construction
• Weather conditions
• Mechanical issues
• Different drivers or vehicle availability
• Route changes

Because of these factors, your cart may be picked up earlier or later than usual. 

To ensure it’s collected:

• Place carts at the curb before 7:30am.
• Leave them out until 7:30pm, unless they’ve already been serviced.

Trucks will not return for carts that are placed out late.

If your cart has not been collected by 7:30pm, you can report a missed collection on the next business day.

To keep Surrey’s streets clean and safe, the City does not collect carts that are overflowing. Overfilled carts can cause garbage to spill during collection, leading to litter on roads and sidewalks.

Please ensure your cart lid closes completely to avoid missed collection. This helps prevent litter, protects the environment, and shows respect for your neighbours and community.

To prevent overflowing carts:

• Ensure all waste can fit in the cart. The lid should be closed.
• Order additional carts if needed.
• Learn how to deal with extra waste.

Carts that are too tightly packed may not be serviced and could be left behind. Our collection drivers make every reasonable effort to empty each cart, but when materials are overly compacted or jammed, they may not empty fully. For safety reasons, drivers cannot use excessive force to dislodge stuck items, as this may damage the cart or cause it to fall into the truck.

To ensure your cart is emptied properly:

• Place materials loosely inside the cart.
• Avoid pressing or compacting items to fit more in.
• Order additional carts if needed.
• Learn how to deal with extra waste.

We do not collect carts that are too close to a car, tree or another cart. We do not want to damage waste collection vehicles or private property.

Ensure proper spacing between the carts and all other obstacles

Ensure the carts are at least:

• 1 meter (3 feet) away from any object (light pole, fence, hydrant, tree, or other carts);
• 3 meters (10 feet) of clearance above the cart; and
• 1.5 meters (5 feet) from parked vehicles.

More cart positioning instructions

• Remove or cut back any hedges or branches to provide clearance.
• Wherever possible, place carts on opposite sides of your driveway.
• Position your cart so it opens towards the street. The handle should be facing your property and the wheels should be against the edge of the curb.

Received multiple warnings or educational materials

Contamination stickers and postcards are intended as educational tools to help you sort correctly. If you've received multiple warnings and continue to place unacceptable items in your carts, collection may be refused.

Homeowner and landlord responsibility

If you’re a landlord, it’s your responsibility to ensure your tenants are using the carts correctly. Please take the time to educate them on what materials are accepted in each cart to help prevent contamination and missed collections.

Neighbours using your cart

If you suspect a neighbour is placing items in your cart without permission, we encourage you to speak with them directly to resolve the issue. The City is not able to intervene in these types of civil matters.

To avoid service disruptions, please carefully review what is accepted in each cart and ensure only accepted items are placed in the correct carts. 

Do not use plastic bags in recycling or organics carts (even if marked biodegradable or compostable).

We collect:

• Organics: every week
• Recyclables: every two weeks, alternating with garbage collection
• Garbage: every two weeks, alternating with recyclables collection

There are no garbage trucks on the road during recycling week, and vice versa.

See collection schedules.