Junk Removal in Burnaby, BC: Pickup and Hiring Guide

Check municipal pickup before paying for hauling

Check the City's large-item program for a furniture or appliance clearout. Its accepted list includes couches, desks, tables, large kitchen and laundry appliances, bed frames and box springs. The City excludes electronics, microwaves, doors, and building, demolition and renovation materials. [1]

Request pickup through the City's online form or by calling 604-294-7972. Wait for the assigned date, time and location before putting items out. For a condo or townhome, ask your building manager to coordinate the request because the City's limit applies to the complex. [1]

Decide who will move the items to the assigned collection spot. If you need help carrying a sofa downstairs or moving an appliance out of a room, describe that work when requesting a private quote. Ask about removal, disconnection and dismantling as separate tasks so you can confirm the crew's scope before arrival.

Separate the load by its destination

Sort your inventory into usable donations, accepted recyclables, bulky items and materials needing a separate disposal route. The Eco-Centre accepts electronics, small appliances, batteries, propane tanks and paint among its listed recycling categories. It excludes furniture, mattresses and garbage from recycling drop-off. [2]

For Eco-Centre donations, pack accepted items in a box or bag and check that they are clean, functional and suitable for resale. The donation program excludes furniture, large appliances, mattresses and box springs. Ask a hauler where it intends to take usable furniture before agreeing to a donation charge. [2]

Keep paint, batteries, propane tanks and electronics identifiable when sending photos for a quote. Metro Vancouver lists these among materials banned from garbage disposal. For renovation leftovers, disclose gypsum and any suspected asbestos before booking; both appear in its hazardous and operational impact ban list. Ask the contractor to confirm an appropriate destination before loading. [4]

Compare quotes using the same inventory

Send each hauler the same photos and item list. Include dimensions for bulky furniture, the floor level, stair flights, elevator arrangements, walking distance to the truck and the available loading location. Ask whether the crew will remove items from inside your home or collect a pile you prepare outside.

Ask whether the contractor charges by item, truck space, weight or a fixed job price. If it quotes a fraction of a truck, request the truck's capacity and an explanation of how the crew measures your load. Have the contractor confirm the final price before loading and explain how it handles additions to the agreed inventory.

Metro Vancouver's schedule effective July 1, 2026 lists garbage under 1 tonne at CAD 182 per tonne, capped at CAD 167 per load. It also lists a CAD 5 transaction fee and minimums of CAD 25 during applicable peak hours and CAD 15 outside peak hours. Metro Vancouver includes the transaction fee in minimum and maximum fees where applicable. Use these facility charges to discuss the disposal portion of a quote, rather than treating them as a complete household hauling price. [3]

Ask whether the quote includes disposal charges, mattress handling, sorting, taxes and any surcharge. Metro Vancouver lists mattresses and box springs at CAD 20 each, with a maximum of 4 units. Its disposal-ban program applies a CAD 80 minimum surcharge to loads containing banned hazardous, operational impact or product stewardship materials, plus potential removal, cleanup or remediation costs. [3] [4]

Prepare the home and agree on completion

Mark the items you want removed and keep belongings you intend to retain apart from the removal pile. Clear the carrying route and tell the crew about narrow doorways or delicate flooring. Ask who supplies floor protection and whether dismantling a bed frame or cabinet forms part of the quoted work.

For a shared building, confirm elevator reservations, loading access and permitted work times with your manager. Give the hauler those arrangements before accepting its arrival window. Request proof of insurance and ask how it handles damage to your home or shared areas.

Agree on the finish condition: which rooms or outdoor areas the crew will clear, whether it will sweep the loading area, and how it will document disposal or recycling. Check the completed inventory and invoice before settling the balance.

Selected Metro Vancouver disposal rates

Choose a removal route

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the complete inventory, including items inside cupboards or storage areas.
2. Check City pickup eligibility and acceptance rules for each bulky item.
3. Separate donations, electronics, chemicals and renovation leftovers.
4. Describe stairs, elevator access, carrying distance and loading arrangements.
5. Confirm lifting, dismantling and disconnection responsibilities.
6. Get a written total and the conditions that could change it.
7. Ask for proof of insurance and the intended disposal destinations.
8. Agree on cleanup and review the removed inventory before payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I arrange City pickup for a condo?

Check whether your household receives City curbside collection. Burnaby lists a limit of 6 items per complex for apartments, condos and townhomes. Coordinate with your manager rather than treating that limit as an allowance for each unit. [1]

Can I take a couch or mattress to the Eco-Centre?

The Eco-Centre excludes furniture and mattresses from recycling drop-off and donation. Check the City's large-item program for eligibility and acceptance, or ask a hauler to confirm another destination. [1] [2]

Do published tipping fees tell me what a hauler should charge?

Use them as a reference for facility disposal charges. Ask the hauler for its complete job price, including carrying, transport, sorting and disposal. Compare quotes using the same inventory and access details. [3]

Can a crew put all my junk into one garbage load?

Ask for a sorting plan. Metro Vancouver bans listed recyclables, product stewardship materials and hazardous materials from garbage disposal and applies surcharges when inspectors find them. Disclose paint, electronics, batteries, propane tanks and renovation materials before the crew arrives. [4]