---
title: Courtenay yard waste collection and drop-off
question: "Where does yard waste and brush go?"
place: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/courtenay
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Courtenay
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/yard-waste/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/yard-waste.json"
---

# Courtenay yard waste collection and drop-off

**Question:** Where does yard waste and brush go?

**Short answer:** In the City of Courtenay, yard waste goes in the green organics cart, collected every week with food waste. Branches up to 3 inches (75 mm) across that fit with the lid closed are accepted. Extra can go to the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre in Cumberland for a fee. The City also runs a seasonal drop-off.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Courtenay, https://www.courtenay.ca)  
**Cost:** Curbside is included in the annual solid waste fee ($359.50 for single homes and duplexes). At the Cumberland centre, yard waste is $65 per tonne, and each visit is subject to a minimum charge.  
**Where:**
- In person: Comox Valley Waste Management Centre, 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland, BC (Seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed statutory holidays.)
- Phone: Operational Services, 250-338-1525

## Key facts

- **Curbside collection:** Yes. Yard waste goes in the green organics cart, which is collected every week along with food waste.
  - Source: [Organics](https://www.courtenay.ca/solid-waste/organics)
  - Official wording: "Organics (yard and food waste) is collected every week in Courtenay." … "tree or hedge prunings" … "branches (maximum diameter 3 inches; must fit inside the cart with the lid closed)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to set it out:** Branches up to 3 inches (75 mm) in diameter that fit inside the cart with the lid closed. Material outside the cart is not collected. Cart weight limits: 120 L 55 kg, 240 L 102 kg, 360 L 146 kg.
  - Source: [Organics, Accepted in the organics cart](https://www.courtenay.ca/solid-waste/organics)
  - Official wording: "branches (maximum diameter 3 inches; must fit inside the cart with the lid closed)." … "Extra material outside the cart will not be collected."
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023, s. 1 "Yard Waste", s. 21](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/solid-waste-management-bylaw-no-3113-2023)
  - Official wording: "five (75) millimetres in diameter." … "55 KG (122 LB) 102 KG (227 LB) 146 KG (322 LB)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Drop-off:** Comox Valley Waste Management Centre, 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland: open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays. Also a free City drop-off for extra yard waste, Nov 2 to 28, 2026: end of McKenzie Avenue, Mon to Fri 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  - Source: [Facilities and Hours, Comox Strathcona Waste Management, Waste Management Centres](https://www.cswm.ca/Hours)
  - Official wording: "Comox Valley Waste Management Centre (CVWMC) 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0" … "Open seven days a week, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm" … "Closed on all statutory holidays"
  - Source: [Organics, Seasonal yard waste drop-off](https://www.courtenay.ca/solid-waste/organics)
  - Official wording: "The end of McKenzie Avenue, next to the City Operations Centre." … "Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cost:** Curbside: included in the annual solid waste fee ($359.50 for single homes and duplexes). Cumberland centre: yard waste $65 per tonne, cut grass and leaves $65 per tonne; each visit is subject to a minimum charge (the page states $10 only for garbage). The City's Nov 2026 seasonal drop-off is free.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges, Comox Strathcona Waste Management, Fees / Garbage minimum charge and weight](https://www.cswm.ca/fees)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste | per tonne | $65" … "Cut Grass and Leaves | per tonne | $65" … "Each visit is subject to a minimum charge, unless otherwise specified." … "| Non-Stewardship Tires and tires on rims | per tonne | $170 | Rubble | per tonne | $60 ### Garbage (municipal solid waste) - $10 minimum charge for up to 100 kilograms (kg) still applies. Disposal rates are per metric tonne and will be pro-rated for any portion thereof. Each visit is subject to a minimum charge, unless otherwise specified. Groups engaged in community clean-up events may be eligible for a tipping fee discount. Contact us for more information on how to apply."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1673 (consolidated July 2026), Sched. III App. IV](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/fees-and-charges-bylaw-no-1673-consolidated-version-july-2026)
  - Official wording: "Garbage Organic Waste Recyclables Fee 120 L 360 L 360 L $359.50 B. Multi-residential detached, Manufactured Homes in a Mobile Home Park,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not accepted:** Not in the organics cart: large amounts of sod or soil, rocks or stumps, painted or treated wood, invasive plants (take to CSWM), compostable or biodegradable plastic bags, animal feces or litter.
  - Source: [Organics, Not accepted in the organics cart](https://www.courtenay.ca/solid-waste/organics)
  - Official wording: "large amounts of sod or soil" … "rocks or stumps" … "painted or treated wood" … "invasive plants (refer to CSWM for proper disposal)" … "compostable or biodegradable plastic bags"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023
  - Source: [Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023, s. 1](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/solid-waste-management-bylaw-no-3113-2023)
  - Official wording: "Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In the City of Courtenay, yard waste goes in the green organics cart, which is collected every week along with food waste. The cart takes branches up to 3 inches (75 mm) in diameter that fit inside with the lid closed. Material outside the cart is not collected. Weight limits are 55 kg for a 120 L cart, 102 kg for 240 L and 146 kg for 360 L. See [Solid Waste Management Bylaw 3113](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/solid-waste-management-bylaw-no-3113-2023).

## Steps

1. Put what fits in the green cart. Paper bags, newspaper or no liner are fine; compostable and biodegradable plastic bags are not allowed.
2. For extra, check the City's Organics page for a seasonal yard waste drop-off for residents with curbside collection. It runs only at certain times of year.
3. For larger loads, take them to the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre, 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland. Yard waste is $65 per tonne, and cut grass and leaves are $65 per tonne.

## Good to know

- Not accepted in the organics cart: large amounts of sod or soil, rocks or stumps, painted or treated wood, invasive plants (take to CSWM), compostable or biodegradable plastic bags, and animal feces or litter.
- The fees page states a minimum charge only for garbage and does not say whether one applies to yard waste.
- Open burning is not an easy alternative; see the backyard fire answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Organics, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/solid-waste/organics)
- [Fees and Charges, Comox Strathcona Waste Management](https://www.cswm.ca/fees)

## Related questions

- [Courtenay backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/yard-waste.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/yard-waste.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/yard-waste.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/yard-waste.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/yard-waste.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/yard-waste.md)

## Sources

- [Organics, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/solid-waste/organics) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges, Comox Strathcona Waste Management](https://www.cswm.ca/fees) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Facilities and Hours, Comox Strathcona Waste Management](https://www.cswm.ca/Hours) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/solid-waste-management-bylaw-no-3113-2023) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1673 (consolidated July 2026) (PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/fees-and-charges-bylaw-no-1673-consolidated-version-july-2026) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Courtenay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/yard-waste/_