---
title: "Ladysmith garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected in Ladysmith, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?"
place: Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/ladysmith
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Ladysmith
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Ladysmith garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

**Question:** When is garbage collected in Ladysmith, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?

**Short answer:** In Ladysmith, garbage and recycling are collected every other week and organics every week, on your collection day, by GFL Environmental for the Town. Find your route (blue, green, orange, yellow or red) on the Town's Collection Routes Map. Put containers out by 8:00 a.m. The fee is $17.50 per dwelling unit per month.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Ladysmith, https://www.ladysmith.ca)  
**Cost:** $17.50 per dwelling unit per month, charged to the owner. Extra garbage tags $3 each or 6 for $15. Yellow recycling bags $1.25.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Missed pickup (Town Hall, option 8), 250-245-6400
- Email: Missed pickup email, is@ladysmith.ca
- Online: Routes and schedules, https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage and recycling are collected every other week (alternating weeks); organics every week, all on your designated collection day. Collection is by GFL Environmental for the Town.
  - Source: [Routes and Schedules, Waste Services](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules)
  - Official wording: "Garbage and recycling are collected on alternating weeks while organics are collected every week on your designated collection day." … "Garbage, recycling and organic collection in Ladysmith is provided by GFL Environmental."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Five colour routes (blue, green, orange, yellow, red). Find your street on the Collection Routes Map, then your route's 2026 schedule on the Routes & Schedules page. Missed pickup: call 250.245.6400 option 8 or email is@ladysmith.ca.
  - Source: [Routes and Schedules, Collection](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules)
  - Official wording: "There are five collection routes (blue, green, orange, yellow and red) based on where you live in Ladysmith." … "To find your route, view the Collection Routes Map and locate your street."
  - Source: [Routes and Schedules, Collection Issues](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules)
  - Official wording: "Call 250.245.6400 and choose Option 8"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** Not at present: residents use their own containers (garbage container up to 120 L; organics container up to 45 L with tight seal). The Town does not provide organic or recycling containers.
  - Source: [Garbage, Garbage Collection](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage)
  - Official wording: "no larger than 120/litres in size"
  - Source: [Organics, Organic Collection](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/organics)
  - Official wording: "The Town of Ladysmith does not provide organic containers."
  - Source: [Routes and Schedules, Automated collection](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules)
  - Official wording: "New collection carts will be delivered in advance of the program launch."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put containers at the curb by 8:00 a.m. on collection day, as close as possible to the street edge, visible to crews and not blocking vehicles or pedestrians. Remove empties after collection and store containers on the property. Bags of garbage without a container are not collected.
  - Source: [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated December 16, 2025, s. 10(e)-(g)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "set out for collection by 8:00 a.m. on the collection day all garbage containers" … "remove all empty garbage containers and recycling containers from the street"
  - Source: [Garbage, Garbage Collection](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage)
  - Official wording: "Garbage left in bags will not be collected."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** One garbage container every second week (page: up to 120 L and 20 kg/44 lb) and one 45 L organics container weekly; recycling unlimited. Extra garbage containers need tags: $3 each or 6 for $15 (bylaw: one extra container per dwelling unit). (Sources differ: Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated Dec 16, 2025 (includes Bylaw 2225). Conflict: the bylaw's set-out clause 10(c) still says 22 kg / 70 L until January 1, 2027 and 20 kg / 120 L after, while its container definition and the Town's page say 120 L now. Tags sold at City Hall and Frank Jameson Community Centre.)
  - Source: [Garbage, Garbage Collection](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage)
  - Official wording: "Each household is allowed to place one garbage container (no larger than 120/litres in size and weighing no more than 20 kilograms/44 pounds when full) at the curb." … "Tickets are available for $3.00 each or 6 for $15.00"
  - Source: [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated December 16, 2025, s. 8.5, 10(c)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a maximum of one additional garbage container from each dwelling unit." … "do not weigh more than 22 kilograms (50 pounds) or have a total" … "kilograms in weight and does not exceed a total capacity of 120 litres."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $17.50 per dwelling unit per month, charged to the owner.
  - Source: [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated December 16, 2025, Schedule A (Bylaw 2225)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A charge of $17.50 per unit per month is imposed upon owners of each dwelling unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588
  - Source: [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated December 16, 2025, title](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Garbage and recycling are collected every other week (alternating weeks) and organics every week, on your designated day, under the [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf). Collection is by GFL Environmental for the Town. There are five colour routes. Find your street on the Collection Routes Map, then your schedule on the Routes and Schedules page.

## Steps

1. Look up your route and schedule on the Town's [Routes and Schedules page](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules).
2. Use your own containers: a garbage container up to 120 L, and an organics container up to 45 L with a tight seal. The Town does not provide organic or recycling containers at present.
3. Put them at the curb by 8:00 a.m. on collection day, close to the street edge, visible to crews and not blocking vehicles or pedestrians.
4. Remove empties after collection and store containers on your property.

## Good to know

- Limits: one garbage container every second week (up to 120 L and 20 kg), one 45 L organics container weekly, and unlimited recycling. Bags of garbage without a container are not collected.
- Extra garbage containers need tags: $3 each or 6 for $15. The bylaw allows one extra container per dwelling unit. The bylaw's set-out clause still says 22 kg and 70 L until January 1, 2027, so confirm with the Town.
- Yellow recycling bags are $1.25 at Town Hall or the Frank Jameson Community Centre.
- Missed pickup: call 250-245-6400, option 8, or e-mail is@ladysmith.ca.
- The Town says it will move to automated curbside collection with new carts in 2027; service is not changing until then.

## Official forms and pages

- [Routes and Schedules, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules)
- [Garbage, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage)
- [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated December 16, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Ladysmith yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/yard-waste.md)
- [Ladysmith backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/backyard-fire.md)
- [Ladysmith bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/garbage-collection.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/garbage-collection.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/garbage-collection.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/garbage-collection.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/garbage-collection.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1644-fees-and-charges-consolidation.pdf](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1644-fees-and-charges-consolidation.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Routes and Schedules, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/routes-and-schedules) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garbage, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/garbage) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Organics, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/our-services/garbage-recycling/organics) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garbage, Recyclables and Organics Collection Bylaw 2005, No. 1588, consolidated December 16, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1588-garbage-recycling-and-organics-collection-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Ladysmith. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection/_