The three-step method
- Measure a normal week. Count how many bags or boxes of recycling you fill. A kitchen bag is roughly 13 US gallons.
- Divide by pickups. Twice-weekly pickup halves the bin you need.
- Add 25% headroom for busy weeks, then choose the next size up.
Or let the bin size calculator do it from seats, staff or units.
Sizes at a glance
| Container | Volume |
|---|---|
| 64-gal cart | ≈ 240 L |
| 95–96-gal cart | ≈ 360 L |
| 2-yard bin | ≈ 1.5 m³ — about four 96-gal carts |
| 4-yard bin | ≈ 3.1 m³ |
| 8-yard bin | ≈ 6.1 m³ |
Restaurants
Restaurants produce lots of cardboard, bottles and cans — and food waste, which belongs in a separate organics stream. Small spots often manage with two or three 96-gallon carts; busy kitchens usually need a front-load bin for recycling plus organics carts.
Offices
Offices are paper- and container-heavy and fairly predictable. Put indoor stations where people throw things away, then size the outdoor cart or bin to match. A small office is often one 96-gallon cart a week.
Retail
Cardboard drives retail volume. Breaking boxes down flat roughly doubles what fits. Stores receiving daily deliveries should ask about a cardboard baler.
Property managers
Multi-residential buildings need enough capacity for every unit, plus space for overflow on move-in days. Compare a larger bin with one pickup against a smaller bin with two — the cheaper option depends on your hauler's price per lift.
Common questions
How do I know if my recycling bin is too small?
If the lid doesn't close before pickup day, or you are paying overflow or extra-lift fees, it's too small — or you need more pickups.
What is a yard in bin sizes?
A cubic yard: about 0.76 cubic metres, or roughly 202 US gallons.
Ready to compare?
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