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Courtenay yard waste collection and drop-off

Where does yard waste and brush go?

Courtenay, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

Curbside collectionYes. Yard waste goes in the green organics cart, which is collected every week along with food waste.Organics · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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).
How to set it outBranches 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.Organics, Accepted in the organics cart; Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023, s. 1 "Yard Waste", s. 21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
five (75) millimetres in diameter.
55 KG (122 LB) 102 KG (227 LB) 146 KG (322 LB)
Drop-offComox 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.Facilities and Hours, Comox Strathcona Waste Management, Waste Management Centres; Organics, Seasonal yard waste drop-off · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
The end of McKenzie Avenue, next to the City Operations Centre.
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
CostCurbside: 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.Fees and Charges, Comox Strathcona Waste Management, Fees / Garbage minimum charge and weight; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1673 (consolidated July 2026), Sched. III App. IV · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
Garbage Organic Waste Recyclables Fee 120 L 360 L 360 L $359.50 B. Multi-residential detached, Manufactured Homes in a Mobile Home Park,
Not acceptedNot 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.Organics, Not accepted in the organics cart · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
BylawSolid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023

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.

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

The same question in other places

Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Organics, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Fees and Charges, Comox Strathcona Waste Management (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Facilities and Hours, Comox Strathcona Waste Management (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 3113, 2023 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1673 (consolidated July 2026) (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.