---
title: "Lake Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected in Lake Cowichan, and what are the rules for totes, limits, and extra bags?"
place: Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lake-cowichan
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Lake Cowichan
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Lake Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

**Question:** When is garbage collected in Lake Cowichan, and what are the rules for totes, limits, and extra bags?

**Short answer:** In Lake Cowichan, garbage is collected bi-weekly from one 80 L tote, and organics at least once every second week. Your day is Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, depending on your street. The 2026 flat rate is $17.80 a month for an 80 L tote.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Lake Cowichan, https://www.lakecowichan.ca)  
**Cost:** 2026 flat rate (garbage, organics and recycling): $17.80 a month (80 L tote) or $26.70 a month (120 L tote). Extra garbage tag $12.  
**How long:** Billed annually in January; due March 31.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall (extra garbage tags), 39 South Shore Road, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Public Works, 250-749-6244

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage: bi-weekly (one 80 L garbage tote every other week). Organics: at least once every second week. Recycling: on the schedule in the annual calendar.
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, Schedule A (2026)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "one regulation size garbage tote collected bi-weekly" … "collected a minimum of once every second week"
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, 2026 collection calendar](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "One charcoal 80L garbage tote shall be collected every other"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Finding your day:** Collection day depends on your street (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday). Use the 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar on the Public Works page.
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, 2026 collection calendar](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Refuse/Recycle Collection Day by Street Name:"
  - Source: [Public Works, Public Works page](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/public-works.php)
  - Official wording: "2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Carts:** Each residential dwelling gets one garbage tote and one kitchen organics tote on payment of fees. Sizes 80 L, 120 L or 240 L (240 L only for multi-family). Recycling goes in a blue tote. Lost or damaged totes are replaced at cost plus delivery, paid by the owner.
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 3.6, s. 8.2, Schedule A](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A residential dwelling within the Town limits will be issued one garbage receptacle" … "and one kitchen organics receptacle upon payment of the fees" … "Any lost, damaged, or destroyed receptacles shall be replaced at cost plus" … "$53.40 per month for 240 litre tote (only applicable to multi-family)"
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Place clean recyclables in blue tote provided by the Town."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Setting carts out:** Bylaw: within 1 m (3 ft) of the curb, at the edge of pavement, by 7:00 a.m. on collection day. The 2026 calendar says 7:00 a.m. from July 2 to August 31 and 8:00 a.m. the rest of the year. Nothing is taken from private property or driveways; store garbage in a bear-resistant enclosure between collections. (Sources differ: The 2026 calendar says totes must be at curbside by 7:00 am July 2 through August 31 and 8:00 am for the remainder of the year; the bylaw says 7:00 a.m. The bylaw is followed here.)
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 4.1, 4.2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "all regulation garbage receptacles shall be accessible within 1 meter" … "by 7:00 a.m. on the designated day of collection." … "stored within a Bear-Resistant or Wildlife Proof Enclosure in between collection"
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All totes must be at curbside by 7:00 am July 2 through August" … "31 and 8:00 am for the remainder of the year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits and extra garbage:** One regulation garbage tote per pick-up. Extra garbage totes need a prepaid tag ($12 each, bought at the Town office). Bags at curbside are not collected unless inside the tote or in a can with a tag.
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 18.2, s. 12.2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "if each additional" … "regulation garbage receptacle is affixed with a prepaid tag." … "Tags for use with additional regulation garbage receptacles may be bought at the"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025, Schedule E, Waste Rates](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Extra Garbage Container Tag" … "12.00"
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Garbage bags at curbside will not be collected."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** 2026 residential flat rate (garbage, organics and recycling): $17.80 a month for an 80 L tote or $26.70 a month for a 120 L tote. Billed annually in January; 10% discount if paid by the end of February; due March 31; 5% penalty after the first business day in July and another 5% after September 30.
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, Schedule A (2026), s. 12.1, 13](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$17.80 per month for 80 litre tote" … "$26.70 per month for 120 litre tote" … "paid on or before the last day of February." … "payable in advance. The due date is March 31"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024.
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 1](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Town collects garbage, organics and recycling under its [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024](<https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf>). Garbage is bi-weekly (one 80 L garbage tote every other week). Organics are collected at least once every second week. Recycling follows the schedule in the annual calendar, which shows "Refuse and Organics", "Recycle and Organics" and "Recycle Only" weeks. Collection day depends on your street: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

## Steps

1. Find your day on the 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar on the [Public Works page](<https://www.lakecowichan.ca/public-works.php>).
2. Put the tote within 1 m (3 ft) of the curb, at the edge of the pavement, by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
3. Store garbage in a bear-resistant enclosure between collections.

## Good to know

- Each residential dwelling gets one garbage tote and one kitchen organics tote on payment of fees. Recycling goes in a blue tote. Garbage totes come in 80 L, 120 L or 240 L (240 L only for multi-family). Lost or damaged totes are replaced at cost plus delivery, paid by the owner.
- Only one regulation garbage tote per pick-up. Extra garbage totes need a prepaid tag, $12 each, bought at the Town office. Bags at the curb are not collected unless inside the tote or in a can with a tag.
- Nothing is taken from private property or driveways.
- The 2026 flat rate covers garbage, organics and recycling: $17.80 a month (80 L) or $26.70 a month (120 L). It is billed annually in January, with a 10% discount if paid by the end of February. It is due March 31, with a 5% penalty after the first business day in July and another 5% after September 30.
- The 2026 calendar says 7:00 a.m. from July 2 to August 31 and 8:00 a.m. the rest of the year, while the bylaw says 7:00 a.m. Use the earlier time, or ask Public Works.
- No weight limit was found.

## Official forms and pages

- [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
- [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
- [Public Works, Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/public-works.php)

## Related questions

- [Lake Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste.md)
- [Lake Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/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)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/garbage-collection.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-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

- [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Public Works, Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/public-works.php) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Lake Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/garbage-collection/_