Cart Exchange Options

• Read through the Cart Exchange FAQs (scroll down)
• Please note: Cart Exchange Requests must be submitted by the property owner with verification of the utility billing account number.
• If you have further questions, please contact us at Cart.Requests@nanaimo.ca or call 250-758-5222.

Applicable if you have a:

• Single Family Dwelling: requesting the upsize option for your Blue Cart and/or Black Cart.
• Home with a Suite sharing an upsized cart set: requesting the upsize option for your Blue Cart and/or Black Cart.
• Home with a Suite or Duplex sharing an upsized cart set: request to split an upsized cart into two regular sized carts

Option A) Online Cart Request Form

Click here to access the online Cart Exchange Request form

Option B) Printable Cart Exchange Request Form - to be submitted in person or via mail 

Please do not email this form. Printed and scanned forms submitted via email will not be accepted. 

The printable Cart Exchange Request form  can be submitted:

• In person: at the Service and Resource Centre located at 411 Dunsmuir Street
• By mail:

City of Nanaimo

455 Wallace Street

Nanaimo BC  V9R 5J6

NOTE: printed and scanned forms submitted via email will NOT be accepted.

Once approved, the exchange fee will be applied to your user rates account.

The $60 fee will be applied to your user rate account and will show on your next billing cycle.

Are you certain everything you are sorting into your garbage is truly garbage? Many household items that are not accepted in your carts should be taken to your local recycling drop-off depots.

Check out these facilities and the materials they accept here or download our app and search the “What Goes Where” wizard. Alternatively, read on for options regarding up-sizing your cart.

If you regularly find yourself with excess garbage or recycling, you can up-size your cart for larger ones.  The waste collection fee will increase $100 annually. (This increase covers the costs of tipping the additional waste at the landfill).

A $60 exchange fee will apply.  Please note, if you are renting your home, please contact your landlord to request changes, as all charges will be added to the user fees account.  If this is an occasional issue, read below for tips on how to deal with excess waste.

Please note, the rates and charges for curbside collection service are subject to change upon amendment of Bylaw 7128.

Size	Height	Width	Depth	Weight
120 litres (35 gal)	95 cm 38 in	47 cm 19 in	62 cm 24 in	10 kg 22 lb
240 litres (65 gal)	111 cm 44 in	68 cm 27 in	69 cm 27 in	13.5 kg 30 lb
360 litres (95 gal)	111 cm 44 in	74 cm 29 in	85 cm 33 in	16 kg 35 lb

Your User Rates account number can be found on the top of your Statement of User Rates; see the yellow highlighted box in the image below.

If you have recently purchased a home, and have not yet received a Statement of User Rates, please reach out to our User Rates department to obtain your account number: 250-755-4416 / userrates.info@nanaimo.ca

At this time, no upsize options are offered for the Green Cart.  An 120 litre capacity is assigned per dwelling unit, and homes with suites are provided with a shared upsized 240 litre organics cart.

The standard size for a Blue Cart (recycling) is 240 litres - you can upsize to 360 litres, or if you have mobility constraints downsize to 120 litres. The standard size for a Black Cart (garbage) is 120 litres; you can upsize to 240 litres for an additional $100 cost annually.

The standard size for a Blue Cart (recycling) is 360 litres - you can add an additional cart that is either 240 litres or 360 litres. The standard size for a Black Cart (garbage) is 240 litres; you can upsize to 360 litres for an additional $100 cost annually.

Please contact us by emailing Cart.Requests@nanaimo.ca or calling 250-758-5222.

Residents living alone may find the standard size (240 litre) recycling cart too big.  You may downsize your recycling cart to the smallest size, which is 120 litres.

You may change your cart size once per year, per Bylaw 7128.

When you have received your occupancy permit and moved in, please contact us at Cart.Requests@nanaimo.ca or call 250-758-5222.

Once you have received an Occupancy Permit for your new property, your cart delivery will be put into queue.

To prevent damage or theft of carts, they will not be delivered until we have been notified the occupants have moved into the house.

All cart exchange requests must be submitted by the property owner, please contact your landlord.

For more information on billing, please visit the User Rates page by clicking here.