---
title: "Bowen Island garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected in Bowen Island, and what are the rules for cans, limits, and extra bags?"
place: Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/bowen-island
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: Bowen Island Municipality
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Bowen Island garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

**Question:** When is garbage collected in Bowen Island, and what are the rules for cans, limits, and extra bags?

**Short answer:** In Bowen Island, regular garbage is picked up bi-weekly on Tuesdays, alternating between the east and west sides of the island. Organics are picked up every Wednesday island-wide. There is no curbside recycling. The garbage parcel tax is $650 per parcel, included in property taxes.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Bowen Island Municipality, https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca)  
**Cost:** Garbage parcel tax of $650 per parcel, included in property taxes. Second can: annual decal (page lists $175 for 2022-23) or single-use decal $10.  
**How long:** Cans or bags must be out by 8:00 a.m. on collection day.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bowen Waste Solutions (collection contractor), 604-947-2255
- Email: Bowen Waste Solutions email, info@bowenwastesolutions.com
- Online: Collection schedule and map, https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/

## Key facts

- **How often:** Regular garbage is picked up every two weeks on Tuesdays, alternating between the east and west sides of the island. Organic refuse is picked up every week on Wednesdays, island-wide. There is no curbside recycling; recyclables go to the Bowen Island Recycling Depot (BIRD).
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Schedule, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/)
  - Official wording: "Regular garbage is picked up every two weeks on Tuesdays." … "We alternate each week between the east and west sides of the island." … "Organic refuse is picked up every week on Wednesdays, island-wide."
  - Source: [Recycling, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/recycling/)
  - Official wording: "There is no curbside collection of recyclable materials on Bowen Island." … "Bowen Island Recycling Depot (BIRD)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Finding your day:** Check the map and collection calendar on the Schedule page (2026 Collection Schedule and Map PDF). Bowen Waste Solutions: 604-947-2255 or info@bowenwastesolutions.com.
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Schedule, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/)
  - Official wording: "Please check the map and collection calendar below to find the schedule for your area."
  - Source: [Garbage Collection, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/)
  - Official wording: "Bowen Waste phone number 604-947-2255"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Carts:** Not confirmed. The municipality's page does not state cart sizes.
- **Setting carts out:** Cans or bags must be accessible to the garbage collector by 8:00 a.m. on collection day. Bags must be sealed and intact. If the day is a statutory holiday, pickup is the first business day after unless arranged. No time to bring cans in is stated.
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Schedule, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/)
  - Official wording: "must be accessible to the garbage collector by 8:00 am on collection day." … "Bags must be sealed and intact" … "pickup will occur on the first business day after the statutory holiday"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits and extra garbage:** One can of regular garbage per property per collection day, all bagged, total weight not over 18 kg. A second can needs an annual second can decal ($175, listed for July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023) or a single-use decal ($10, no expiry), bought from Bowen Waste Solutions. Organics: one container of kitchen waste plus up to three cans, bags or bundles of yard trimmings per week.
  - Source: [Regular Garbage, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/regular-garbage/)
  - Official wording: "Each residential property can put out ONE can of regular garbage per collection day." … "Total weight of garbage cannot exceed 18 kg."
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Fees, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-fees/)
  - Official wording: "Annual second can decal (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) | $175" … "Single-use decal (no expiry) | $10"
  - Source: [Organics Collection, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/organics-collection/)
  - Official wording: "Kitchen waste: one container per week" … "Yard waste: three containers or bags per week"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** A garbage parcel tax of $650 per parcel (Solid Waste Collection/Disposal), set by Bylaw No. 713, 2026. The service fee is included in property taxes.
  - Source: [Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026, Bowen Island Municipality, s. 2.1](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/341182/)
  - Official wording: "Bowen Island Solid Waste Collection/Disposal $650.00" … "FINALLY ADOPTED this 27th day of April, 2026."
  - Source: [Garbage Collection Fees, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-fees/)
  - Official wording: "The fee is included in your property taxes."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Bylaw No. 518, 2020, as amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026 (parcel tax). The municipality's bylaw page also lists Waste Collection, Removal and Disposal Regulations Amendment Bylaws No. 109, 2004 and No. 387, 2015, which amend the former Greater Vancouver Regional District Electoral Area C Bylaw No. 729, 1992.
  - Source: [Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Bylaw No. 518, 2020, Bowen Island Municipality, title](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/307677/)
  - Official wording: "Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Bylaw 518, 2020"
  - Source: [Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026, Bowen Island Municipality, s. 1.1](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/341182/)
  - Official wording: "Garbage Parcel Tax Rate" … "Bylaw No.518, 2020, Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026"
  - Source: [Waste Collection, Removal and Disposal Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 387, 2015, Bowen Island Municipality, preamble](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/65312/)
  - Official wording: "Electoral Area C Waste Collection, Removal, and Disposal Regulations" … "Bylaw No. 729, 1992" … "Collection, Removal, and Disposal Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 109, 2004, is" … "hereby amended by deleting Schedule “A” entitled “Rates for Collection of Waste” and substituting"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Municipality's Public Works Department arranges residential collection through its contractor, Bowen Waste Solutions. Regular garbage is picked up bi-weekly on Tuesdays, alternating between the east and west sides of the island. Organic refuse is picked up every week on Wednesdays, island-wide. There is no curbside recycling; recyclables go to the Bowen Island Recycling Depot (BIRD). The regional district does not run collection here.

## Steps

1. Find your collection dates on the map and calendar on the [Collection Schedule page](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/) (2026 Collection Schedule and Map, PDF).
2. Put garbage in a can or sealed, intact bags where the collector can reach it by 8:00 a.m. on collection day.
3. For questions, call Bowen Waste Solutions at 604-947-2255 or email info@bowenwastesolutions.com.

## Good to know

- Limit: one can of regular garbage per property per collection day, all bagged, total weight not over 18 kg.
- A second can needs an annual second can decal or a single-use decal ($10, no expiry), bought from Bowen Waste Solutions. The [fees page](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-fees/) lists the annual decal at $175 for July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, so confirm the current price.
- Organics: one container of kitchen waste plus up to three cans, bags or bundles of yard trimmings per week.
- If collection day is a statutory holiday, pickup is the first business day after unless arranged. The page states no time to bring cans in, and no cart sizes.
- The fee is a garbage parcel tax of $650 per parcel (Solid Waste Collection/Disposal), set by Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026, which replaces the amount in the [consolidated Bylaw No. 518, 2020](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/307677/).

## Official forms and pages

- [Garbage Collection Schedule, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/)
- [Garbage Collection Fees, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-fees/)
- [Regular Garbage, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/regular-garbage/)
- [Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/341182/)

## Related questions

- [Bowen Island yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/yard-waste.md)
- [Bowen Island backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/garbage-collection.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/garbage-collection.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/garbage-collection.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/garbage-collection.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/garbage-collection.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Garbage Collection, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage Collection Schedule, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-schedule/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Regular Garbage, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/regular-garbage/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Organics Collection, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/organics-collection/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Recycling, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/recycling/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage Collection Fees, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/garbage-collection/garbage-collection-fees/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Amendment Bylaw No. 713, 2026 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/341182/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Garbage Parcel Tax Rate Bylaw No. 518, 2020 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/307677/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Waste Collection, Removal and Disposal Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 387, 2015 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/65312/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Bowen Island Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/garbage-collection/_