A Sydney man charged after allegedly trying to dump 100 kilograms of cannabis stalks and leaves at a Canberra recycling centre last month has been refused bail in the ACT Magistrates Court.

Dac Ho, 55, was caught by police after a tip-off from the public, and was initially charged with possession of a prohibited substance.

Today his lawyer has indicated he would plead not guilty to all charges, including three new charges of being involved in trafficking and cultivating cannabis as well as trying to destroy evidence.

Police said they were investigating around 20 large bags of cannabis that were left at the Mitchell centre in August, when Ho returned with a second load.

Court documents revealed Ho told police a man in Sydney had asked him to hire two vans and park them in a certain place with the keys hidden.

He later admitted he owned one of the vans.

According to the documents, Ho said that after receiving a call, he collected his own van and drove to Canberra where he emptied the bags inside at Mitchell.

When Ho returned with the second van, police were waiting.

Ho told police he suspected something was not right about the arrangement, but he only realised much later that the bags contained cannabis.

Accused owned rubbish collection business: lawyer

Police today told the court they feared Ho was linked to other grow house operations in the ACT, after phone numbers of people linked to those crimes were found in his phone.

Prosecutors said one of the vans was found near a suspected grow house in Weston, and contained items including mail addressed to the house as well as empty fertiliser containers, heat lamps and pots of soil with traces of cannabis.

But Ho's lawyer said he had a rubbish collection business and was not in the practice of looking inside bags he collected.

Magistrate Maria Doogan turned down a bail application, dismissing claims the prosecution case was weak.

"The fact is the defendant was caught red-handed with 100 kilograms of cannabis," she said.

"That does not suggest to me weak prosecution case."

She noted the court was yet to see the whole case but said "on the face of it it appears to be compelling".

Magistrate Doogan said there was a risk that if Ho continued with his rubbish removal business he would continue to commit offences.

Ho was refused bail and will be back in court in November.