COQUITLAM, B.C. April 26, 2024 – Coquitlam residents who have started their spring cleaning can support a circular economy by registering for Coquitlam’s City-Wide Garage Sale and Giveaway Event. This popular event takes place Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is a great opportunity to sell or give away household items in good condition, while contributing to environmental sustainability and community waste-reduction efforts. It’s an inexpensive way for keen shoppers to find sought-after treasures and bargains, as well as keep items that need a new home out of the landfill.
Registration Process
Online registration is open Monday, April 29 at 9 a.m. and will remain open until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22. Coquitlam residents can choose to participate on one or both dates, and sell or giveaway items. Residents can also select categories of items such as books and toys, clothing, electronics, household decoration and furniture, lawn and garden tools and sports equipment.
This event is open to single-family and duplex homes, as well as multi-family homes who confirm the property owner, property manager or Strata has approved.
If residents in a multi-family residence cannot host a garage sale, they can consider registering for the Spring Clean-Up Sale taking place on Sunday, May 26 in Spirit Square from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Registration open until Saturday, May 11, $30/table, course ID 00146510). Online registration and all details are available at coquitlam.ca/GarageSale.
Minimize Waste
The City-Wide Garage Sale & Giveaway Event contributes to the City's Waste Management goals in its Environmental Sustainability Plan:
- Minimize waste generation
- Maximize reuse, recycling and material recovery
- Ensure opportunities exist to recycle or repurpose unwanted items to discourage illegal dumping and littering
Coquitlam has expanded their garage sale events to a full weekend twice a year, and in recent years has included a giveaway component to help residents sell and give away unwanted but still useable household and personal items, preventing them from going to the landfill.
Since 2014, the successful event has seen a consistent number of registered households every year with a total of over 1,400 registered participants.
Recycling Options
If residents have items remaining after the weekend event, the City recommends the following options for donation and proper disposal:
- Check out the organizations and locations on our Guide to Donating Locally.
- Residents who receive Coquitlam’s curbside collection service can request curbside pickup of up to four large items such as furniture, white goods or mattresses with the Large-item Pickup program by calling Waste Connections of Canada at 604-636-3521. coquitlam.ca/LIPU
- Recycle items such as books, batteries, glass containers and more at the City's Town Centre Park Recycling Depot on Trevor Wingrove Way. Please check the City website for accepted products. coquitlam.ca/Recycling
- Residents can use the Waste Wizard search tool to enter whatever item they need to recycle, giveaway or dispose of and to find out where and how to dispose of it correctly. coquitlam.ca/WasteWizard
Drop off items at the United Boulevard Recycling and Waste Centre, 995 United Boulevard. The facility features a large, full-service recycling depot for the free drop-off of recyclables including flexible plastic packaging, plastic bags, beverage containers, cardboard, books, textiles, batteries, expanded polystyrene, light fixtures, cooking oil, paint products, pesticides and gasoline, propane tanks and electronics and more.
Coquitlam’s Environmental Sustainability Plan
Coquitlam finalized an Environmental Sustainability Plan in January 2022 that guides decisions and ensures the long-term resiliency and sustainability of the community. The Environmental Sustainability Plan is organized into five themes: Climate Action, Built Environment, Waste Management, Water Management and Natural Areas, Wildlife and Habitat. Learn more about the Environmental Sustainability Plan at coquitlam.ca/EnviroPlan.
Media Contact:
Caresse Selk
Manager Environment
City of Coquitlam
604-927-3500
epw@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.
