A full backyard redo produces every kind of waste at once. Old fence, deck boards, a patio, a lawn, a shed, some trees and a lot of dirt. If you book a bin first and sort second, you end up paying to move the wrong things. This is the other order: sort by material, then decide what goes where.
Call before you dig
BC 1 Call's homeowner page lists installing posts for fences, building decks, retaining walls and patios, installing fire pits and digging a garden among the projects that need a locate request. A yard overhaul usually hits several of these. The service is free. You can submit online or call 1 800 474 6886.
Sort into piles
- Soil and sod. Soil goes in its own 10 or 12-yard bin and never in a larger one. Metro Vancouver bans soil, sod, gravel, concrete and asphalt over 0.5 cubic metres per load as inert fill. Sod and soil are not accepted in Burnaby's green bin, in Vancouver's yard waste drop off or at Richmond's Recycling Depot.
- Concrete, pavers and brick. Concrete goes in its own 10 or 12-yard bin and stays out of junk. A mixed concrete and dirt bin (10 or 12-yard) is sometimes possible for an added fee. Pavers and brick can share their own 10 or 12-yard bin, apart from the concrete. Metro Vancouver's toolkit lists bricks, including walkways and backyard installations, among materials banned from disposal. Cutting or breaking masonry makes silica dust, so keep it damp.
- Clean wood. Unpainted, untreated wood goes in its own load. Metro Vancouver's disposal ban manual lists clean wood among banned recyclables. Treated wood is different. Metro bans creosote treated wood and railroad ties. Tell us at booking if your fence, deck or beds are treated.
- Green waste. Branches, shrubs and hedge trimmings follow your city's green bin or yard waste rules. Burnaby's green bin takes branches up to 4 inches. Stumps are a size question, with limits at Metro Vancouver and Vancouver depots.
- Metal. Fence posts, play equipment, old clotheslines and sheds are scrap metal. Surrey's large item pickup lists a basketball hoop, a metal swing set and a metal fire pit as accepted. Burnaby's Eco-Centre does not take fence panels or posts in its green waste area.
- Everything else. Broken planters, old furniture and plastic go in a general junk bin.
Hazardous items
Paint, stain, pesticides, fuel and propane never go in a bin. Check our what not to put in a bin post for the complete list. Garden pesticides and paint have drop off programs.
Plan the bins
With six piles you will probably need more than one bin, and the sequence matters. Begin with the demolition of the old structures, then the digging. Gravel and drain gravel go in their own 10 or 12-yard bin or with sand. Ask when you book about landscape stone and any stumps, since our green waste bins have a stump size limit that depends on your area. We deliver, you fill the bin, and we haul it away when you are finished. For the general junk, the 20-yard is the common starting size. See our 20-yard bin page, dirt page, concrete page and wood page, and our posts on fence and deck tear-downs and dirt and soil disposal.
Permits are not needed when the bin sits on your driveway. If the bin has to sit on the street or lane, some cities need a permit, so confirm with your City first. Give us your permit dates and we will time delivery to match.
FAQ
Can I mix soil and concrete in one bin? Sometimes, for an added fee, in a 10 or 12-yard mixed bin. Otherwise concrete and dirt each go in their own 10 or 12-yard bin.
Do I need to call before I dig? BC 1 Call lists fences, decks, retaining walls, patios and digging a garden. It is free.
Can treated wood go with clean wood? No. Tell us at booking if your fence or deck wood is treated.
How many bins will I need? Usually one per material for the heavy items, plus a general junk bin. Ask when you book.