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Lake Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off

Where does yard waste and brush go in Lake Cowichan?

Lake Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Curbside collectionNo curbside yard waste collection. The waste bylaw bans yard and garden waste from curbside collection.Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 7.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
How to set it outAt the drop-off: grass, leaves and branches no greater than 3 inches (7.6 cm) in diameter.2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Yard and garden materials including grass, leaves and
branches no greater than 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter
Drop-offFree 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.2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2; Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Meade Creek and Bings Creek · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Free Recyclables at Meade & Bings Creek Facilities
Meade Creek - Lake Cowichan: 8855 Youbou Rd.
Bings Creek - Duncan: 3900 Drinkwater Rd.
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.
CostFree for residential loads at CVRD recycling centres; $110 a tonne for commercial loads.2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2; Open Burning, Cowichan Valley Regional District, CVRD Open Burning page; Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Accepted Materials and Fees, Yard Waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Free Recyclables at Meade & Bings Creek Facilities
Recycling - free
The CVRD provides free yard and garden waste drop-off at local Recycling Centres.
Yard Waste | Free (residential loads)
$110/tonne (commercial loads)
Not acceptedNo 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.2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar, Calendar, page 2; Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Yard Waste · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
(No sod, rock or dirt)
branches no greater than 3 inches or 7.6 cm in diameter
Grass, leaves, and branches less than 3″ in diameter accepted. NO rock, sod, or dirt. NO stumps.
– Giant Hogweed
– Poison Hemlock
BylawTown of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (yard and garden waste not collected).Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Town of Lake Cowichan Waste Collection Regulations and

How it works

The Town does not collect yard waste at the curb. The Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 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

The same question in other places

Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich

Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Waste Collection Regulations and Rates Bylaw No. 1114-2024 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
  2. 2026 Recycling, Waste and Organics Calendar (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Drop-off Depots and Recycling Centres, Cowichan Valley Regional District (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Accepted Materials and Fees, Cowichan Valley Regional District (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Open Burning, Cowichan Valley Regional District (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. How answers are checked.