If your home has a basement suite or a laneway house, the garbage question gets practical fast. How many carts do you get, who orders changes and what do you do when two households fill one cart? This guide uses the City of Vancouver's published rules. Other Metro Vancouver cities set their own, so check yours.
How the City of Vancouver treats a house with a suite
The City's flat utility rates page says houses must use the City's biweekly (every other week) garbage collection service. It lists the following as houses:
- Single-family dwellings with or without basement suites
- Laneway houses
- Non-strata duplexes
- Converted single-family dwellings
So a house with a suite is still a house for garbage purposes, and it gets the City's service rather than a private multi-unit arrangement.
How many carts you get
The City provides a minimum size and quantity of garbage carts to houses, based on the number of dwelling units. For the first three, its table shows:
| Dwelling units | Minimum garbage cart billed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 75 L |
| 2 | 120 L |
| 3 | 180 L |
The same table continues for larger counts. For current annual rates, see the City's flat utility rates page, since rates are set each year by City Council.
The green bin
The City says each home is initially provided with one green bin, and green bins are serviced weekly. Its rates page says that green bins are serviced weekly except in January and February, when they are serviced every other week. If your bin is always filled to the top, the City suggests considering a larger bin or an extra bin.
Who can change the carts
The City says only the property owner, or a person authorized by the owner, can request extra bins, change bin sizes, remove bins, start new service or cancel service. Both owners and tenants can report damaged bins or request a same-size replacement for a missing one. If you are a tenant in a suite, ask your landlord about changes.
What if the carts are not enough?
The City's garbage page suggests two options for extra garbage: buying extra-garbage stickers for bags, or ordering a larger garbage bin. It also says to make sure the lid on your garbage bin can fully close, because crews may not collect an overflowing bin. It advises placing all food scraps in the green bin.
The City also says to take items that do not fit your carts, such as large items, to the Zero Waste Centre, transfer station or landfill (fees apply). Our household garbage page covers more options.
Shared carts and suite etiquette
Two households often share the outdoor space. A few practical points:
- Agree on who sets the carts out and brings them back.
- Keep the garbage lid closed tightly, as the City advises.
- Label carts if you want to keep suites separate. Follow the City's rules on marking, since marking outside the white space on the lid can damage the bin.
Suite renovations and cleanouts
Turning a basement into a suite, or cleaning one out between tenants, creates more waste than carts can handle. If you are building or renovating a suite, check with your City about building permits and rules before you start.
The usual starting point for junk, cleanouts and renos is the 20-yard. More is on the 20-yard bin page. A 15-yard junk bin is at times available but is commonly sold out, so plan around the 20-yard. For any other smaller size, just ask as you book. Trash King delivers the bin and hauls it away, and you load it.
Permits depend on where the bin sits. A bin on your own driveway or yard needs no permit, since that is private property. The street, boulevard or lane is different, and that needs a City permit. Your strata or HOA can still have rules of its own. You apply with the City, and we time delivery to your permit dates.
Keep paint, propane, tires, fuel and electronics out of the bin. They never go in a Trash King bin. Our what not to put in a bin page lists the rest.
If a mattress or box spring is part of the load, tell us when you book. It goes in as an add-on for an extra fee.
FAQ
Does a house with a basement suite get City garbage service in Vancouver? Yes. The City lists single-family dwellings with or without basement suites as houses.
What size cart does a two-unit house get? The City's minimum for two dwelling units is a 120 L garbage cart.
Who can order a bigger cart? The property owner, or someone the owner authorizes.
Do other cities work the same way? Check with your own City, since this answer is for the City of Vancouver.