{"title":"Lake Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off","question":"Where does yard waste and brush go in Lake Cowichan?","slug":"yard-waste","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"garbage-and-recycling","name":"Garbage, recycling and waste"},"owner":"shared","owner_label":"More than one level of government","owner_body":null,"short_answer":"Lake Cowichan has no curbside yard waste collection; the waste bylaw bans yard and garden waste from curbside. Take it free to the CVRD Meade Creek recycling centre, 8855 Youbou Rd, Lake Cowichan, or Bings Creek in Duncan. Branches must be under 3 inches (7.6 cm) across.","aliases":["yard waste lake cowichan","brush disposal lake cowichan","meade creek recycling lake cowichan","yard waste drop off lake cowichan"],"cost":"Free for residential loads at CVRD recycling centres; $110 a tonne for commercial loads.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"CVRD Meade Creek Recycling Centre","value":"8855 Youbou Rd, Lake Cowichan, BC","note":"April 1 to Oct. 31: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 to Mar. 31: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays."},{"type":"in_person","label":"CVRD Bings Creek Recycling Centre","value":"3900 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan, BC","note":"Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays."},{"type":"phone","label":"CVRD recycling hotline","value":"250-746-2540"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf"},{"title":"2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf"},{"title":"Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District","url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"Lake Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/garbage-collection/"},{"slug":"backyard-fire","title":"Lake Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-fire/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/yard-waste/"}],"topic":{"title":"Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste/"},"facts":{"curbside":{"label":"Curbside collection","value":"No curbside yard waste collection. The waste bylaw bans yard and garden waste from curbside collection.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 7.1","quotes":["No owner or occupier shall deposit for the collection by the Waste Collector of","prohibited materials, yard and garden waste and glass or recyclable materials."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"preparation":{"label":"How to set it out","value":"At the drop-off: grass, leaves and branches no greater than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf","title":"2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Calendar, page 2","quotes":["Yard and garden materials including grass, leaves and","branches no greater than 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"drop_off":{"label":"Drop-off","value":"Free at CVRD Meade Creek (8855 Youbou Rd, Lake Cowichan) and Bings Creek (3900 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan). Meade Creek: April 1 to Oct 31 Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov 1 to Mar 31 Wed, Sat, Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bings Creek: daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays.","short":"CVRD Meade Creek or Bings Creek (free)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf","title":"2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Calendar, page 2","quotes":["Free Recyclables at Meade & Bings Creek Facilities","Meade Creek - Lake Cowichan: 8855 Youbou Rd.","Bings Creek - Duncan: 3900 Drinkwater Rd."]},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/","title":"Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District","section":"Meade Creek and Bings Creek","quotes":["Summer Hours (April 1 to October 31): Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.","Winter Hours (November 1 to March 31): Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday only 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.","Hours: Open every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"cost":{"label":"Cost","value":"Free for residential loads at CVRD recycling centres; $110 a tonne for commercial loads.","short":"Free for residential loads","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf","title":"2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Calendar, page 2","quotes":["Free Recyclables at Meade & Bings Creek Facilities","Recycling - free"]},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/environment/backyard-burning/","title":"Open Burning, Cowichan Valley Regional District","section":"CVRD Open Burning page","quotes":["The CVRD provides free yard and garden waste drop-off at local Recycling Centres."]},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/","title":"Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District","section":"Accepted Materials and Fees, Yard Waste","quotes":["Yard Waste | Free (residential loads)","$110/tonne (commercial loads)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_accepted":{"label":"Not accepted","value":"No rock, sod, dirt or stumps; branches must be under 3 inches (7.6 cm) across. Giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock and daphne/spurge laurel are not accepted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf","title":"2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"Calendar, page 2","quotes":["(No sod, rock or dirt)","branches no greater than 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter"]},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/","title":"Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District","section":"Yard Waste","quotes":["Grass, leaves, and branches less than 3″ in diameter accepted. NO rock, sod, or dirt. NO stumps.","– Giant Hogweed","– Poison Hemlock"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (yard and garden waste not collected).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","section":"s. 1","quotes":["Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Town does not collect yard waste at the curb. The [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024](<https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf>) bans yard and garden waste from curbside collection. Residents take it to a Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) recycling centre.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Cut branches to no more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter. Grass, leaves and branches are accepted.\n2. Take the load to Meade Creek (8855 Youbou Rd, Lake Cowichan) or Bings Creek (3900 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan).\n3. Residential loads are free.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Meade Creek, April 1 to Oct. 31: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 to Mar. 31: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.\n- Bings Creek: daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both are closed statutory holidays.\n- Not accepted: rock, sod, dirt or stumps. Giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock and daphne/spurge laurel are also not accepted.\n- Commercial loads are $110 a tonne.\n- The CVRD recycling hotline is 250-746-2540.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf","title":"2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/","title":"Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/","title":"Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://cvrd.ca/services/environment/backyard-burning/","title":"Open Burning, Cowichan Valley Regional District","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste.json"}}