---
title: Lake Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off
question: "Where does yard waste and brush go in Lake Cowichan?"
place: Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lake-cowichan
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste.json"
---

# Lake Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off

**Question:** Where does yard waste and brush go in Lake Cowichan?

**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.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Free for residential loads at CVRD recycling centres; $110 a tonne for commercial loads.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: CVRD Meade Creek Recycling Centre, 8855 Youbou Rd, Lake Cowichan, BC (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.)
- In person: CVRD Bings Creek Recycling Centre, 3900 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan, BC (Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed statutory holidays.)
- Phone: CVRD recycling hotline, 250-746-2540

## Key facts

- **Curbside collection:** No curbside yard waste collection. The waste bylaw bans yard and garden waste from curbside collection.
  - Source: [Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 7.1](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1114-2024%20Waste%20Rates%20and%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to set it out:** At the drop-off: grass, leaves and branches no greater than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter.
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Yard and garden materials including grass, leaves and" … "branches no greater than 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Drop-off:** 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.
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Free Recyclables at Meade & Bings Creek Facilities" … "Meade Creek - Lake Cowichan: 8855 Youbou Rd." … "Bings Creek - Duncan: 3900 Drinkwater Rd."
  - Source: [Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Meade Creek and Bings Creek](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Cost:** Free for residential loads at CVRD recycling centres; $110 a tonne for commercial loads.
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Free Recyclables at Meade & Bings Creek Facilities" … "Recycling - free"
  - Source: [Open Burning, Cowichan Valley Regional District, CVRD Open Burning page](https://cvrd.ca/services/environment/backyard-burning/)
  - Official wording: "The CVRD provides free yard and garden waste drop-off at local Recycling Centres."
  - Source: [Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Accepted Materials and Fees, Yard Waste](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)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not accepted:** 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.
  - Source: [2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/2026%20Refuse%20Calendar.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(No sod, rock or dirt)" … "branches no greater than 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter"
  - 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." … "– Giant Hogweed" … "– Poison Hemlock"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (yard and garden waste not collected).
  - 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 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.

## Steps

1. Cut branches to no more than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter. Grass, leaves and branches are accepted.
2. Take the load to Meade Creek (8855 Youbou Rd, Lake Cowichan) or Bings Creek (3900 Drinkwater Rd, Duncan).
3. Residential loads are free.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Bings Creek: daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both are closed statutory holidays.
- Not accepted: rock, sod, dirt or stumps. Giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock and daphne/spurge laurel are also not accepted.
- Commercial loads are $110 a tonne.
- The CVRD recycling hotline is 250-746-2540.

## 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)
- [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/)

## Related questions

- [Lake Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/garbage-collection.md)
- [Lake Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/yard-waste.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/yard-waste.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/yard-waste.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/yard-waste.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/yard-waste.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/yard-waste.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/yard-waste.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)
- [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 2026-11-08)
- [Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District](https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/accepted-materials-and-fees/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Open Burning, Cowichan Valley Regional District](https://cvrd.ca/services/environment/backyard-burning/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste/_