You’d think the City of Vancouver landfill would be, well, in Vancouver. It isn't. Not even close, really. If you're driving south toward the border and pass through Delta, that massive, green-covered hill near the highway? That's it. It has been there since 1966, tucked away in the Burns Bog area, quietly swallowing the waste of a growing metropolis while everyone up north in the West End or Kitsilano forgets it exists.
Most people just assume their trash disappears into a void. It doesn’t. It goes to Delta. Specifically, it goes to 5400 72nd Street.
It's a weird place. Honestly, it feels less like a dump and more like a massive engineering project that never ends. Because it doesn't. The site serves about a million people. We’re talking Vancouver, Delta, White Rock, and even parts of the University Endowment Lands. It handles roughly 750,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste every single year. That’s a staggering amount of "stuff" we decided we didn't want anymore.
Getting Into the Grit of the City of Vancouver Landfill
If you've ever actually visited the site to drop off an old mattress or a trunk full of drywall, you know the routine. You weigh in. You weigh out. You pay the difference. But what’s happening behind the scenes is way more complex than just burying bags of kitchen scraps in a hole in the ground.
The City of Vancouver operates this site under a very strict Operational Certificate issued by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. They aren't just winging it. There are layers. Liners. Pipes. Sensors. It’s a literal fortress built to keep the "bad stuff" from leaching into the surrounding sensitive ecosystem of Burns Bog.
The Smell and the Science
Let’s talk about the smell. Or the lack thereof, mostly. If a landfill smells like a rotting carcass from five miles away, someone screwed up. At the City of Vancouver landfill, they use something called "daily cover." This is basically a layer of soil or specialized fabric placed over the day's trash to keep birds out and odors in.
But the real magic—if you can call it that—is the gas.
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Landfills produce methane. A lot of it. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, far worse than CO2 in the short term. Instead of just letting it waft into the atmosphere, the City has installed a massive network of wells. These wells suck the gas out. It’s then refined. Since 2003, they’ve been partnering with companies like Village Farms to use that gas. They pipe it over to a massive greenhouse complex nearby to help grow tomatoes and peppers. It’s a circular economy in the grittiest sense.
What You Can Actually Toss (and What You Can’t)
You can't just show up with a barrel of toxic sludge and expect a thumbs up. The "Prohibited Waste" list is long. It's serious.
Don't bring your old car batteries here. Don't bring tires with rims still on them. Paint? No. Electronics? Take those to a Return-It depot. The staff at the scale house are surprisingly eagle-eyed. If they catch you dumping gypsum (drywall) produced before 1990 without a laboratory test proving it’s asbestos-free, you’re going to have a very bad, very expensive day.
The Residential Drop-off Area
For most of us, the "Residential Drop-off" or RDO is where the action happens. It’s separate from the "active face" where the big commercial 18-wheelers dump their loads. It’s safer. It’s paved.
Pro tip: Sort your load before you leave your driveway.
If you have a mix of recycling, yard waste, and straight-up garbage, don't just pile it into a mountain in your truck bed. The landfill charges different rates. Clean wood is cheaper to dump than mixed waste. Yard trimmings are cheaper still. If you mix it all together, they charge you the highest rate for the whole mess. It’s a "lazy tax."
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The Battle With Burns Bog
You can't talk about this landfill without talking about the Bog. Burns Bog is the largest undeveloped urban landmass in North America. It’s a delicate, acidic peat bog that acts as a massive carbon sink.
Environmentalists have been side-eyeing the City of Vancouver landfill for decades. There’s a constant tension. The city needs a place for its trash, but the bog needs to stay wet and acidic to survive. If the landfill leaks "leachate"—the toxic soup created when rainwater filters through garbage—it could devastate the bog's chemistry.
To prevent this, the city uses a "leachate collection system." It’s essentially a giant perimeter trench and a series of pumps that catch the liquid and send it to a treatment plant. They monitor groundwater at over 100 different points. It’s a high-stakes game of environmental chemistry.
The 2026 Reality
As of 2026, the pressure to divert waste is higher than ever. Metro Vancouver has an ambitious goal of 80% waste diversion. That means the landfill is increasingly becoming a place of last resort.
We are seeing more "zero waste" initiatives trickling down to the landfill level. There are now dedicated areas for mattresses—which are stripped for their metal and foam—and specialized bins for "flexible plastic packaging" that used to be buried.
Fees, Fines, and Timing
Money talks. The tipping fees at the City of Vancouver landfill change frequently to keep up with operational costs and provincial taxes.
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Expect to pay a minimum charge. Even if you’re just throwing away one small bag of trash, you’re likely hitting a $15 to $25 floor. It’s why it never makes sense to go for a small load. Wait until the garage is truly overflowing.
- Peak hours: Saturday mornings are a nightmare. You will sit in a line of idling F-150s for 45 minutes.
- Best time to go: Tuesday or Wednesday mid-morning. You’ll breeze through.
- Safety first: You must wear sturdy footwear. Flip-flops are a one-way ticket to being turned away at the gate. No kidding. They take safety seriously because heavy machinery is moving everywhere.
Why Does Vancouver Own Land in Delta?
It’s a historical quirk. Back in the 60s, regional planning wasn't the integrated machine it is today. Vancouver bought the land because it was cheap, seemingly "useless" bog land, and far enough away that residents wouldn't complain about the smell.
Delta allows it to stay because it provides a massive revenue stream and a place for their own residents to dump waste for free (or at discounted rates, depending on current municipal agreements). It’s a marriage of convenience that has lasted over 50 years.
The End of the Line?
Every landfill has a "cell" capacity. They aren't bottomless pits. They are built in sections called cells. When one is full, it’s capped and a new one is started. Eventually, the entire footprint will be full.
What happens then? Usually, it becomes a park. Look at many of the rolling hills in Greater Vancouver—places like Everett Crowley Park—and you’re often looking at a capped landfill. The Delta site is scheduled to keep operating for at least another few decades, but the conversation about "what's next" is already happening in city hall.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you’re planning a trip to the 5400 72nd St location, do these three things to avoid a headache:
- Check the Webcam: The City of Vancouver actually hosts a live "Scale Queue Webcam" on their website. Check it before you leave. If the line is backed up to 72nd Street, stay home and watch Netflix instead.
- Verify Your Material: If you’re bringing anything "sketchy" like old insulation, ceiling tiles, or flooring, look up the "Hazardous Materials" protocol. You might need a manifest or a test result. Don't assume they'll take it.
- Tarp Your Load: This isn't just a suggestion; it’s a legal requirement. If you show up with an uncovered load and stuff is flying out of your trailer, you can be fined or denied entry. Secure it with a net or a heavy-duty tarp.
The City of Vancouver landfill is a necessary beast. It’s the tail end of our consumerist lifestyle. While the goal is to eventually put it out of business through recycling and composting, for now, it remains a vital—if slightly stinky—piece of infrastructure keeping the Lower Mainland clean.
Make sure you bring a debit or credit card. They went cashless a while ago. You don't want to get to the front of a hour-long line only to realize you only have a $20 bill and a pocket full of change.