A strata cleanup day clears out storage lockers, parkade corners and balconies in one go. One shared bin, one notice and a few volunteers can do more in a Saturday than months of single trips to the depot.
The plan runs from council approval to pickup day. Residents and volunteers do the filling, and Trash King brings the bin and collects it when it’s full.
Start with council approval and a written plan
The strata council enforces the building’s bylaws and rules. B.C.’s strata housing guide says rules can cover the use, safety and condition of common property, and that the council has to tell owners and tenants about new rules as soon as it can. A cleanup day uses common property, so put the plan in writing and get council sign-off before you book anything.
The plan can be one page:
- Date and hours for loading
- Where the bin will sit
- Who is in charge on the day
- What goes in the bin and what goes to the drop-off table
- How the cost is covered
If a property manager runs the building, loop them in early. They often know the parkade clearance, the fire lanes and the move-in calendar.
Pick the spot and the size
The best spot is on strata property, where the truck can drive in, set the bin down and pull it out again when it’s full. Check for:
- Height bars at the parkade or gate
- Fire lanes, hydrants and garbage room doors the bin must not block
- Visitor stalls with time limits
- A flat, solid surface
Our post on strata and condo bin placement has the full access list. If the only workable spot is the street, check your city’s street-use rules and permit before you book. Every city in Metro Vancouver sets its own, and rules and timelines change often.
For size, tell us how many units are taking part and what you expect people to bring. You can choose from 15, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Sizes are approximate. A bigger bin only helps if the pad can take it. A mid-day swap, where we pick up the full bin and drop an empty one, can be a better fit than one oversized bin. Ask when you call 604-433-5865.
Choose a date and a loading window
Pick a weekend day that doesn’t clash with move-ins or a building repair. Set clear hours, for example 9 to 3, and keep loading inside the building’s quiet hours.
Think about the season too. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991 to 2020 normals for Vancouver International Airport show November is far wetter than July, so a drier month means lighter, drier loads.
Send residents a clear notice
Send the notice two weeks ahead and post it in the lobby and the elevators. Keep it short:
- Date, hours and bin location
- What can go in: old furniture, shelving, boxes of household junk, broken patio furniture, carpet and other bulky items from lockers
- What stays out of the bin: paint, propane tanks, fuel, tires, batteries and electronics
- How to load: break things down, heavy items low, nothing above the rim
- Who to ask: a name and unit number
Ask people to flatten cardboard for the building’s recycling room, not the bin. Cardboard is one of Metro Vancouver’s banned recyclables in garbage, and it fills a bin fast. When banned recyclables make up more than 5% of a load by weight or volume, the load can be surcharged.
Set up a drop-off table for the items that go elsewhere
Every cleanup day turns up a few cans of paint and a camping tank. Plan for them with a labelled table or tarp away from the bin. A volunteer with a vehicle can take the pile to a Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centre afterward.
At the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre in Coquitlam, Metro Vancouver lists these as free drop-offs:
- Paint: up to 10 cans or 50 aerosol cans per customer per visit, in original labelled containers
- Propane tanks: household barbecue and small camping tanks, up to 100 pounds
- Electronics: items with a plug or built-in battery
- Batteries: bagged or with terminals taped
- Fridges and freezers: up to four refrigeration appliances per visit
A mattress can be added to the bin for an extra fee, so give us a count when you book. If you’d rather drop mattresses off, as of October 2026 Metro Vancouver lists mattresses and box springs at $20 each, up to four, at United Boulevard. Tires go to a Tire Stewardship BC return-to-retailer site. Each centre’s list is different, so check the centre’s page before the run. Hours and limits can change too.
Run the day
Give a few people a role:
- Bin monitor: stays near the bin, checks for banned items and keeps the load below the rim. Tape the “stays out” list to the bin so everyone sees it.
- Table lead: sorts the drop-off pile and labels it
- Resident volunteers: help neighbours who can’t lift heavy pieces
- Lobby watch: keeps hallways and the elevator clear
Load heavy, flat items first and spread them across the floor. Fill gaps with bagged soft items. Stop loading near the end of the window so the monitor can level the top.
After the bin is full
Call us for pickup and keep the truck’s approach clear. Move cars out of the way the night before if the bin sits in visitor parking. Sweep the pad once the bin is gone.
A short note to residents afterward helps the next one. Share what filled the bin and what ended up on the drop-off table. When delivery day comes, our delivery-day guide for DIY renters covers it. Ready to book? See our residential services or email quotes@trashking.ca.
FAQ
Can a strata book one bin for the whole building?
Yes. Get council approval, pick a spot on strata property the truck can reach, and tell us how many units are taking part.
How big a bin do we need for a strata cleanup day?
It depends on how many units take part and what people bring. Tell us both when you call, and ask about a mid-day swap if one bin may not be enough.
Who loads the bin on cleanup day?
Residents do. Trash King delivers and hauls, and the loading is up to the building.
Does Trash King get strata approval for us?
No. The council or manager approves the spot and the date. We book delivery around it.
Can the bin go on the street outside the building?
Check with your City about a permit before the bin goes on the street. Rules and timelines differ by city and change often.
What do we do with paint and propane that residents bring down?
Keep them on a separate drop-off table and take them to a Metro Vancouver recycling and waste centre. They never go in the bin.
Sources
- Metro Vancouver, GVS&DD Bylaw 379 (consolidated), Schedule D (corrugated cardboard as a banned recyclable) and s.7.9 (surcharge when banned recyclables are more than 5% of a load by weight or volume): https://metrovancouver.org/boards/Bylaws/GVSDD_Bylaw_379_Consolidated.pdf (checked 2026-10-30)
- Province of B.C., Strata bylaws and rules explained (council enforces bylaws and rules, rules govern use, safety and condition of common property, inform owners and tenants as soon as feasible): https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/strata-housing/operating-a-strata/bylaws-and-rules/bylaws-and-rules-explained (checked 2026-10-30)
- Metro Vancouver, United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre (free paint up to 10 cans or 50 aerosols per visit, propane tanks up to 100 lb, electronics, batteries, up to four refrigeration appliances, mattresses $20 each max four): https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/united-boulevard-recycling-and-waste-centre (checked 2026-10-30)
- Metro Vancouver, Disposal Ban Program (program overview, which points to Bylaw 379 for the material lists): https://metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/disposal-ban-program
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, Vancouver International Airport (November much wetter than July: 174.6 mm vs 34.1 mm precipitation): https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?climate_id=1108447 (checked 2026-10-30)
- Tire Stewardship BC, Recycle your tires: https://tsbc.ca/recycle-your-tires/
- Trash King, Strata and condo bin placement (access checks, you arrange strata approval and any City permit, and we schedule delivery around them): https://trashking.ca/strata-condo-bin-placement-diy-metro-vancouver/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- Trash King, Residential services: https://trashking.ca/residential-services/
- Trash King, Household garbage (accepted items include most furniture, curtains and carpeting): https://trashking.ca/household-garbage/ (checked 2026-10-30)