Lake Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits
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.
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.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, Schedule A (2026); 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, 2026 collection calendar · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingone regulation size garbage tote collected bi-weekly collected a minimum of once every second week One charcoal 80L garbage tote shall be collected every other |
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| 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.2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, 2026 collection calendar; Public Works, Public Works page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRefuse/Recycle Collection Day by Street Name: 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar |
| 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.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 3.6, s. 8.2, Schedule A; 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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) Place clean recyclables in blue tote provided by the Town. |
| 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.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 4.1, 4.2; 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingall 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 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. |
| 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.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 18.2, s. 12.2; Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025, Schedule E, Waste Rates; 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingif each additional regulation garbage receptacle is affixed with a prepaid tag. Tags for use with additional regulation garbage receptacles may be bought at the Extra Garbage Container Tag 12.00 Garbage bags at curbside will not be collected. |
| 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.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, Schedule A (2026), s. 12.1, 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official 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 |
| Bylaw | Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingTown of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and |
How it works
The Town collects garbage, organics and recycling under its Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024. 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
- Find your day on the 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar on the Public Works page.
- 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.
- 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
The same question in other places
Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich
Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality →
Sources
- Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- Public Works, Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
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