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

# Duncan yard waste collection and drop-off

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Duncan, grass clippings, leaves, non-toxic weeds and branches under 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long go in the green organics cart, collected every week. Larger branches and other yard waste can be taken to the Bings Creek Recycling Centre, free for residential loads.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Duncan, https://duncan.ca)  
**Cost:** Curbside collection is part of the annual curbside utility charge. Residential drop-off at the CVRD recycling centre is free; commercial loads $110 per tonne.  
**How long:** Green cart collected every week; Bings Creek open every day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  
**Where:**
- In person: Bings Creek Recycling Centre, 3900 Drinkwater Road, Duncan (Every day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays, Easter Monday, Boxing Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day.)
- Phone: CVRD Recycling Hotline, 250-746-2540

## Key facts

- **Curbside collection:** Yes. Yard waste goes in the green organics cart with food scraps, collected every week: grass clippings, leaves, non-toxic weeds, and branches under 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long.
  - Source: [Curbside Collection, Organics (Food and Yard Waste)](https://duncan.ca/residents/curbside/)
  - Official wording: "Organic matter, including co-mingled food scraps and yard waste, may be placed in the green cart for collection every week." … "Grass clippings - Leaves - Non-toxic weeds (e.g. no poison hemlock) - Branches less than 1.5cm in diameter and 60cm long"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to set it out:** Branches must be under 1.5 cm in diameter and 60 cm long, and everything must fit inside the cart with the lid fully closed. No plastic or compostable bags or liners; paper bags are accepted.
  - Source: [Curbside Collection, Organics; Residents’ Responsibilities](https://duncan.ca/residents/curbside/)
  - Official wording: "Branches less than 1.5cm in diameter and 60cm long" … "materials must fit inside the cart with the lid fully closed." … "The use of compost bags or liners (including BPI certified bags) is no longer permitted." … "- Cardboard - Paper bags"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Drop-off:** Bings Creek Recycling Centre, 3900 Drinkwater Road, Duncan: open every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed statutory holidays, Easter Monday, Boxing Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day. Residents can bring larger branches and other yard waste.
  - Source: [Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Bings Creek](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/)
  - Official wording: "Address: 3900 Drinkwater Road, Duncan" … "Hours: Open every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m." … "Closed on all Statutory Holidays, Easter Monday, Boxing Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day"
  - Source: [Curbside Collection, Organics](https://duncan.ca/residents/curbside/)
  - Official wording: "Residents can dispose of larger branches and other yard waste for free at the Bings Creek Recycling Centre."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Cost:** Curbside collection is part of the annual curbside utility charge (green cart included). CVRD recycling-centre drop-off: free for residential loads; commercial loads $110 per tonne.
  - Source: [Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste | Free (residential loads) $110/tonne (commercial loads)"
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 4412, Fees and Regulations for Depositing Solid Waste at Bings Creek, Peerless Road and Meade Creek Recycling Centres, consolidated January 3, 2026, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Schedule of fees](https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4412-CON-to-4683-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Yard Waste Recyclable Must not include Invasive Plants No fee"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026, Schedule J (Utilities), A.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "1. Base Residential Unit (including garbage, recyclable materials, and co-mingled organic waste)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not accepted:** Curbside green cart: no plastic or plastic bags (including compostable bags), pet waste, construction materials, concrete, ashes, rocks, dirt, soil, or branches over 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long. CVRD drop-off: no loose soil, rock or sod, or invasive plants (giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock, spurge laurel). Clean stumps under 13 cm are yard waste per the bylaw, though the CVRD page says no stumps. (Sources differ: The CVRD web page says branches under 3 inches are accepted and "NO stumps"; CVRD Bylaw No. 4412 (consolidated January 3, 2026) defines Yard Waste as including clean stumps and branches under 13 cm (5 inches) in diameter and 1 m long. The bylaw is the legal rule; the page may be stricter in practice. Loose soil is not accepted at the centres (Bylaw 4412).)
  - Source: [Curbside Collection, Organics (unacceptable)](https://duncan.ca/residents/curbside/)
  - Official wording: "Plastic - Plastic Bags - Compostable or biodegradeable bags - Pet waste - Construction materials - Concrete - Ashes - Rocks, dirt, soil - Branches more than 1.5cm in diamete and 60cm long"
  - Source: [Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Yard Waste](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/)
  - Official wording: "Grass, leaves, and branches less than 3″ in diameter accepted. NO rock, sod, or dirt. NO stumps." … "The following noxious plants are NOT ACCEPTED with yard waste: – Giant Hogweed – Knotweed – Poison Hemlock – Daphne/Spurge Laurel"
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 4412, Fees and Regulations for Depositing Solid Waste at Bings Creek, Peerless Road and Meade Creek Recycling Centres, consolidated January 3, 2026, Cowichan Valley Regional District, s. 2 (Yard Waste)](https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4412-CON-to-4683-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "branches, and clean stumps less than 13 centimetres (5 inches) in diameter and 1 metre (39 inches) in length" … "Must not include Invasive Plants No fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 3256, 2025 (curbside); CVRD Bylaw No. 4412 (fees and regulations for depositing waste at the Bings Creek, Peerless Road and Meade Creek recycling centres)
  - Source: [City Bylaws folder, City Bylaws folder (listing)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448)
  - Official wording: "Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 3256, 2025"
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 4412, Fees and Regulations for Depositing Solid Waste at Bings Creek, Peerless Road and Meade Creek Recycling Centres, consolidated January 3, 2026, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Title](https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4412-CON-to-4683-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "COWICHAN VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT Bylaw No. 4412"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Duncan's green organics cart takes yard waste along with food scraps, collected every week. Set the cart at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on collection day. Larger branches and other yard waste go to the Cowichan Valley Regional District's Bings Creek Recycling Centre.

## Good to know

- Green cart: grass clippings, leaves, non-toxic weeds, and branches under 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long. Everything must fit with the lid fully closed. Paper bags are accepted; no plastic or compostable bags or liners.
- Not accepted in the green cart: plastic, pet waste, construction materials, concrete, ashes, rocks, dirt, soil, or branches over 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long.
- Bings Creek, 3900 Drinkwater Road: open every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed statutory holidays, Easter Monday, Boxing Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day. Residents can bring larger branches and other yard waste.
- Not accepted at the centre: loose soil, rock or sod, or invasive plants (giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock, spurge laurel).
- Stumps: [CVRD Bylaw No. 4412](https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4412-CON-to-4683-1.pdf) counts clean stumps and branches under 13 cm across and 1 m long as yard waste, but the CVRD web page says no stumps. Confirm with the CVRD before bringing one.
- Cost: residential loads are free; commercial loads are $110 per tonne under the bylaw. The curbside charge is in the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386).
- Backyard burning is banned in the City.

## Official forms and pages

- [Curbside Collection page](https://duncan.ca/residents/curbside/)

## Related questions

- [Duncan tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/tree-removal.md)
- [Duncan backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/yard-waste.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/yard-waste.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/yard-waste.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/yard-waste.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/yard-waste.md)

## Sources

- [Curbside Collection, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/residents/curbside/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw No. 4412, Fees and Regulations for Depositing Solid Waste at Bings Creek, Peerless Road and Meade Creek Recycling Centres, consolidated January 3, 2026 (PDF), Cowichan Valley Regional District](https://cvrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/4412-CON-to-4683-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, consolidated to August 24, 2026 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City Bylaws folder, City of Duncan CivicWeb](https://duncan.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/37448) (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 Duncan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/yard-waste/_