Checked
Abbotsford recycling notices: red stickers, sorting and missed pickup
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
A red contamination sticker means staff found non-accepted material in an Abbotsford recycling cart. The cart may be rolled back to stop collection.
Key information
A red contamination sticker means staff found non-accepted material in an Abbotsford recycling cart. The cart may be rolled back to stop collection. Use the notice to correct the specific item, or contact the city for sorting help.
On this page
Plan your next step
| Task or feature | What to know |
|---|---|
| Red sticker | Read the identified item and correct sorting |
| Loose clean containers | Accepted blue-cart material |
| Unclear mistake | Contact sorting staff |
Sources: Contamination Remediation Plan | City of Abbotsford
How audits and notices work
Recycling ambassadors inspect carts before the trucks arrive. Correctly sorted carts can receive a Star Recycler sticker. A contaminated cart gets a red sticker describing the observed items and may be rolled back. Drivers can also trigger an information postcard.
Repeated violations can lead to fines. The 2026 remediation plan aims to reduce the city contamination rate by 25% between April 1 and December 31. That system target does not change which items your cart accepts.
Sources: Contamination Remediation Plan | City of Abbotsford
Common errors to remove
The blue cart is for accepted packaging and paper, not every object made from recyclable-looking material. Durable plastic toys and storage bins, electronics, scrap metal, textiles, food, ceramics, glass, construction material and flexible plastic bags are common errors.
Keep accepted recyclables empty, clean and dry. Place them loose, except shredded paper contained in a paper bag or box. Soiled pizza boxes and paper towels go to compost. Glass bottles and jars have the city’s separate grey-bin route; flexible plastics and foam need an accepting depot.
Sources: Contamination Remediation Plan | City of Abbotsford
Get item-specific help
The Waste Wizard identifies accepted streams and depots, whose material limits can differ. If you cannot identify the mistake on the sticker or postcard, ask staff rather than repeating the same set-out.
Sorting help is available at sortyourwaste@abbotsford.ca or 604-864-5640. The stated hotline hours are weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m., excluding statutory holidays. The CRP page’s older depot-only glass table conflicts with the grey-bin service page; the dedicated glass guidance supplies the current curbside route.
Sources: Contamination Remediation Plan | City of Abbotsford
Useful questions and answers
What does a red sticker mean?
The cart contained items not accepted in curbside recycling; the sticker identifies what staff observed.
Why was my cart rolled back?
Staff may roll it back to prevent the contaminated material from being collected into the recycling stream.
Can drivers send a notice too?
Yes. The plan describes postcards when collection drivers observe non-accepted material.
Can repeated mistakes lead to a fine?
Yes. Repeated solid-waste by-law offences may lead to fines.
Are plastic toys blue-cart recycling?
No. Durable plastic products such as toys and storage containers are listed as contamination.
Should ordinary recyclables be bagged?
No. Put them in loose. Shredded paper is the stated exception, in a paper bag or box.
Do dirty pizza boxes go in the blue cart?
No. The city directs food-soiled pizza boxes and paper towels to compost.
Where should glass bottles go?
Use the dedicated grey glass-bin program. The CRP page’s depot-only table is older than the current glass-service guidance.
Who can explain a notice I do not understand?
Email sortyourwaste@abbotsford.ca or call 604-864-5640.
When is the sorting hotline open?
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., excluding statutory holidays.
Official information and next steps
Facts checked on October 14, 2026. Seasonal conditions and available appointments can change.