{"title":"North Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off","question":"Where does yard waste and brush go in North Cowichan?","slug":"yard-waste","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North 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":"In North Cowichan, yard and garden waste goes in the green organics cart, collected every week. Larger branches go to a Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) depot, which takes residential yard waste free: Bings Creek (3900 Drinkwater Road) or Peerless Road in Ladysmith.","aliases":["yard waste north cowichan","where to dump branches north cowichan","bings creek yard waste","green cart yard waste north cowichan"],"cost":"Curbside is included in the annual garbage and organics utility charge ($157 a year for the default 80 L + 80 L carts). Drop-off of residential yard waste at CVRD centres is free; commercial loads $110 per tonne.","how_long":"Organics cart: collected every week. Bings Creek depot: every day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Bings Creek Solid Waste Management Complex (every day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)","value":"3900 Drinkwater Road, Duncan"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Peerless Road Drop-Off Depot, Ladysmith (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 1 to March 31; Wednesday to Sunday in summer)","value":"Ladysmith (the Municipality's pages give two different street addresses; check the CVRD page)"},{"type":"online","label":"CVRD drop-off depots and recycling centres","value":"https://cvrd.ca/services/garbage-recycling/waste-and-recycling-facilities/drop-off-depots-recycling-centers/"},{"type":"phone","label":"Operations (curbside collection)","value":"250-746-3106"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-08/4012_Waste-Collection-Bylaw-2025_1.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"garbage-collection","title":"North Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/garbage-collection/"},{"slug":"backyard-fire","title":"North Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-fire/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/yard-waste/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-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":"Yes. Yard and garden waste goes in the green organics cart together with kitchen scraps, collected every week. Yard and garden waste means vegetation from gardens, lawns, shrubs and trees, including prunings. Plastic liners (even compostable ones) are not allowed; use paper bags, newspaper or leave loose.","short":"Yes, weekly in organics cart","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/curbside-collection/organics-kitchen-yard-waste","title":"Organics, kitchen and yard waste, Municipality of North Cowichan","section":"intro","quotes":["Curbside organics collection is every week and includes both kitchen waste and yard waste","To meet provincial regulations, North Cowichan and all composting facilities in BC no longer allows the use of any plastics"]},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-08/4012_Waste-Collection-Bylaw-2025_1.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025 (PDF)","section":"s. 2 definitions","quotes":["means vegetation removed from gardens, lawns,","Plastic liners cannot be used in Organics Carts"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"preparation":{"label":"How to set it out","value":"Branches and prunings must be no more than 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long to count as yard waste for the cart. Loose material must fit in the organics cart with the lid closed; weight limits are 36 kg (80 L cart), 59 kg (120 L) and 109 kg (240 L). Larger branches are not curbside; take them to the depot (branches under 3 inches/7.6 cm accepted there).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-08/4012_Waste-Collection-Bylaw-2025_1.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025 (PDF)","section":"s. 2 definition; Table 2","quotes":["prunings from shrubs and trees no greater than 1.5 cm in diameter and 60 cm","36KG (80LB)"]},{"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"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"drop_off":{"label":"Drop-off","value":"Free year-round at CVRD recycling centres. Bings Creek, 3900 Drinkwater Road, Duncan: every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peerless Road, 10830 Westdowne Road, Ladysmith: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (November 1 to March 31; Wednesday to Sunday in summer). Closed statutory holidays and some other days.","short":"CVRD centres, free: Bings Creek, Peerless Road","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/burning","title":"Open Burning &amp; Campfires | Municipality of North Cowichan","section":"Alternatives to open burning","quotes":["Take yard waste (year-round and free of charge) to one of our region’s solid waste management and recycling facilities","Bings Creek Solid Waste Management Complex, 3900 Drinkwater Road, North Cowichan","Phone the CVRD Recycling Hotline at 250-746-2540"]},{"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":["Yard Waste | Free (residential loads)"]},{"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":"CVRD Drop-off Depots & Recycling Centres page","quotes":["Hours: Open every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.","Address: 10830 Westdowne Road, Ladysmith","Winter Hours (November 1 to March 31): Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday only 9 a.m. to 5 p.m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"cost":{"label":"Cost","value":"Curbside is included in the annual garbage and organics utility charge ($157 a year for the default 80 L + 80 L carts). Drop-off of residential yard waste at CVRD centres is free; commercial loads $110 per tonne.","short":"Curbside in $157 a year; drop-off free","status":"stated","sources":[{"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":["| Tires (On Rim) | $6/unit (4 tires per person daily limit) | Passenger car and light truck tires on rims are accepted for a fee. | Yard Waste | Free (residential loads) $110/tonne (commercial loads) | Grass, leaves, and branches less than 3'' in diameter accepted. NO rock, sod, or dirt. NO stumps."]},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, 2020, Schedule I (PDF)","section":"Schedule I, item 1","quotes":["Tri-annual per dwelling unit (annual cost of $157)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_accepted":{"label":"Not accepted","value":"Curbside: plastic bags or liners of any kind, including compostable ones. At the CVRD depot: no rock, sod, dirt or stumps, and no giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock or daphne/spurge laurel with yard waste. Pet waste and animal carcasses are not accepted in organics.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/curbside-collection/organics-kitchen-yard-waste","title":"Organics, kitchen and yard waste, Municipality of North Cowichan","section":"Acceptable liners","quotes":["no longer allows the use of any plastics – including bags labelled as certified compostable"]},{"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; Organics","quotes":["NO rock, sod, or dirt. NO stumps.","Giant Hogweed","No animal carcasses, pet waste"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025 (yard and garden waste definition and cart rules); CVRD Solid Waste Fees and Regulations Bylaw No. 4412 for the depots.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-08/4012_Waste-Collection-Bylaw-2025_1.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025 (PDF)","section":"s. 1; Prohibited Waste definition","quotes":["Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025","CVRD Bylaw No. 4412 – Solid Waste Fees and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nNorth Cowichan collects yard and garden waste weekly in the green organics cart, together with kitchen scraps. Under the [Waste Collection Bylaw](<https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-08/4012_Waste-Collection-Bylaw-2025_1.pdf>), yard and garden waste means vegetation from gardens, lawns, shrubs and trees, including prunings.\n\nLarger loads and branches go to a depot run by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), not the Municipality.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Curbside: put yard waste in the organics cart. Branches and prunings must be no more than 1.5 cm thick and 60 cm long. The lid must close.\n2. Use paper bags, newspaper or leave it loose. Plastic liners of any kind, even compostable ones, are not allowed.\n3. Respect weight limits: 36 kg (80 L cart), 59 kg (120 L) and 109 kg (240 L).\n4. Larger branches: take them to the depot. Branches under 3 inches (7.6 cm) are accepted there.\n5. Depots: Bings Creek, 3900 Drinkwater Road, Duncan, every day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peerless Road, Ladysmith: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (November 1 to March 31; Wednesday to Sunday in summer). Closed statutory holidays and some other days.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Residential yard waste is free at the CVRD centres; commercial loads are $110 per tonne.\n- At the depot: no rock, sod, dirt or stumps, and no giant hogweed, knotweed, poison hemlock or daphne/spurge laurel with yard waste.\n- Pet waste and animal carcasses are not accepted in organics.\n- Burning yard waste needs a permit; see the backyard fire answer.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/curbside-collection/organics-kitchen-yard-waste","title":"Organics, kitchen and yard waste, Municipality of North Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/curbside-collection/garbage","title":"Garbage, Municipality of North Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-08/4012_Waste-Collection-Bylaw-2025_1.pdf","title":"Waste Collection Bylaw No. 4012, 2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"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":"2026-11-06"},{"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":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, 2020, Schedule I (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/burning","title":"Open Burning &amp; Campfires | Municipality of North Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/north-cowichan/yard-waste/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/yard-waste.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/yard-waste.json"}}