Garbage, recycling and the landfill
How curbside garbage and recycling work in Prince George: cart sizes and costs, set-out times, bear rules and where to take what the cart won’t.
Updated
At a glance
- Put carts out between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. on collection day and bring them back by 7 p.m.
- Garbage carts come in three sizes; the annual cost is billed on your City utility bill, not your property tax.
- Curbside recycling in Prince George is run by Recycle BC, not the City.
- Leaving a cart out outside the allowed hours can bring a $100 fine because of bears.
- The Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill and transfer stations are run by the Regional District (250-960-4400).
Prince George splits household waste between three organizations. The City collects your garbage cart. Recycle BC runs curbside recycling. The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George operates the landfill, transfer stations and several recycling depots. Knowing who does what saves you a lot of phone tag.
Your collection day
Collection days are set by colour-coded zones across the city. The fastest way to find yours is our garbage day lookup: type your address to see your next pickups and add them to your phone’s calendar. The City’s printable calendar and the cityofpg mobile app work too.
Your colour zone matters for more than garbage day. The City also uses these zones as evacuation areas during emergencies, so it’s worth knowing yours. See emergency services and alerts.
Setting out your carts
- Roll the garbage cart out between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. on collection day.
- Close the lid all the way. Carts that are overfilled or have the lid propped open are left behind.
- Put the recycling container about two metres away from the garbage cart.
- Leave about two metres between your carts and parked vehicles.
- Bring everything back in by 7 p.m.
The set-out window isn’t just about tidiness. Prince George is bear country, and the City says an average of 35 bears are destroyed each year after they learn to eat garbage and fruit in town. A cart left at the curb outside the allowed hours can get a $100 fine. Leaving other wildlife attractants (fruit, bird feeders, unsecured garbage) where animals can reach them can bring a $300 fine. Keep your cart in a garage or shed between pickups. If you can’t, a ratchet or cam strap over the lid helps.
Cart sizes and what they cost
You pay for garbage collection on your City utility bill, not your property tax bill. The City’s estimated yearly cost by cart size:
| Cart | Capacity (approx.) | Estimated cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 135 L (about 1.5 bags) | $192 |
| Medium | 250 L (about 3 bags) | $253 |
| Large | 360 L (about 4 bags) | $306 |
Prices change from year to year, so check the City’s page for current rates. For the full utility bill breakdown, see property taxes and utilities.
Changing size: moving up to a bigger cart costs a $30 exchange fee. Moving down to a smaller cart is free. If you’ve just bought your home, you have six months to swap without the fee.
Don’t want a cart at all? You can apply for a cart credit if you don’t want a City cart stored on your property.
What the garbage cart won’t take
These items stay in the cart after pickup, so don’t put them in:
- Animal carcasses
- Car tires
- Drywall (gypsum)
- Hazardous materials such as pesticides, paint, solvents, car batteries and ashes
- Propane tanks and cylinders
- Electronics and appliances, such as TVs and monitors
- Used oil and oil filters
Most of these can be dropped off for recycling or safe disposal. See below.
Recycling
Curbside recycling in Prince George is a Recycle BC program. Their Prince George page lists what goes in the container, what doesn’t, and how to report a missed pickup. Rinse containers before they go in, because food residue attracts wildlife.
If your home isn’t on the curbside program, or you have more than fits, the Regional District lists these drop-off options:
- Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot (Recycle BC depot)
- Vanway Regional Transfer Station
- Return-It depots in town, including locations off Vance Road and on the Hart Highway
Our waste and recycling map shows every depot, bottle return, transfer station and the landfill with hours, fees and what each one takes.
The Regional District’s Sort Smart site (sortsmart.ca) is a handy search tool for checking whether something can be recycled.
The landfill and transfer stations
The Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill and the rural transfer stations (Buckhorn, Chief Lake, Shelley, Vanway and others) are run by the Regional District, not the City. Hours, tipping fees and accepted materials vary by site and change seasonally. Check the Regional District’s list before you load the truck, or see each site’s hours and fees on our waste and recycling map. Cover and secure every load: loose loads can be charged extra at the gate.
Regional District Environmental Services: 250-960-4400 or 1-800-667-1959.
Help for residents with disabilities
If you have a permanent physical disability and can’t move your cart to the curb without help, apply for the City’s Set Out/Set Back service. City crews will move the cart to the curb and put it back after it’s emptied.
Questions or problems
- Missed pickup, damaged cart, cart size changes: 311 (or 250-561-7600 from outside city limits), 311@princegeorge.ca
- Recycling questions: Recycle BC
- Landfill and depot questions: Regional District, 250-960-4400
The City’s garbage carts carry RFID tags. These help optimize routes and confirm pickups, and trucks may photograph carts that break the rules (for example, overflowing lids). The City says it blurs any people or vehicles in those photos.
Related: waste and recycling map, utility rates, water and sewer, bylaws and animal control, moving to Prince George.
Common questions
What time do I put my garbage cart out in Prince George?
Between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. on your collection day. Bring the cart back in by 7 p.m. the same day. Outside those hours a cart at the curb can draw a $100 fine under the City’s wildlife rules.
Who picks up recycling in Prince George?
Curbside recycling is operated by Recycle BC. The City collects garbage. Put your recycling container about two metres away from your garbage cart so the trucks can grab each one.
How do I change my garbage cart size?
Call 311 (or 250-561-7600 from outside city limits). Moving to a larger cart has a $30 exchange fee; moving to a smaller one is free. New homeowners get a six-month window to swap sizes without the fee.
Where can I take things the garbage cart won’t accept?
Tires, drywall, paint, propane tanks, electronics and similar items go to Regional District landfill and transfer station sites, Return-It depots or Recycle BC depots. Check the Regional District’s site list for what each location accepts.
My cart was missed. Who do I call?
Contact the City Service Centre at 311, email 311@princegeorge.ca, or file a service request in the cityofpg app.
Sources
Official links
More in city services
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- Water, sewer and sprinkling rulesWhere Prince George tap water comes from, year-round sprinkling rules, frozen pipes, leaks, water meters and what not to flush.
- Property taxes and utility billsPrince George property tax and utility due dates, how to pay, the home owner grant, MyCity accounts, utility rates and what if you fall behind.
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- Getting around by busA practical guide to Prince George Transit: fares, Umo, passes, handyDART, free-ride days, trip planning and service alerts.
- Parking downtown and around the hospitalParking in Prince George: free three-hour street parking, downtown lots and parkades, monthly and residential permits, paying or disputing tickets.
