---
title: "Parksville garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?"
place: Parksville, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/parksville
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: regional
owner_body: Regional District of Nanaimo
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Parksville garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

**Question:** When is garbage collected, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?

**Short answer:** The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), not the City of Parksville, collects garbage and recycling from single-family homes in Parksville every two weeks on an alternating cycle, and food waste every week. Put carts out between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on collection day, lids closed and unlocked. Overfilled carts are not collected.

**Who handles it:** Regional district (Regional District of Nanaimo, https://www.rdn.bc.ca)  
**Cost:** Annual utility fee by garbage cart size (2026): 80 L $200; 100 L (default) $215; 240 L $305; two 100 L carts $305. Recycling carts cost nothing extra. A 240 L organics cart adds $50 a year; 100 L plus 240 L adds $70. Exchanging a garbage or organics cart $75.  
**How long:** Garbage and recycling every two weeks on an alternating cycle; food waste every week. Collection runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  
**Where:**
- Online: Collection calendar and reminders (enter your address), https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection
- Online: Curbside Collection Online Portal (carts), https://rdn.bc.ca/curbsideonline
- Phone: RDN Curbside, 250-390-6501
- Phone: Missed collection (contractor), 250-248-8109

## Key facts

- **How often:** Run by the Regional District of Nanaimo: garbage and recycling every two weeks on an alternating cycle; food waste (organics) every week. On a statutory holiday all collection days move forward one day.
  - Source: [Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Collection Schedule](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection)
  - Official wording: "Recycling and garbage are collected every two weeks on an alternating cycle. Organics carts are collected every week." … "If there is a statutory holiday, all collection days will be moved forward one day."
  - Source: [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01), s. 14](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) Garbage collection every two weeks;" … "c) Food Waste collection every week."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Enter your address in the RDN calendar tool on the RDN curbside page to see or print your calendar or sign up for email or phone reminders, or use the free "RDN Curbside" app (iPhone or Android).
  - Source: [Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Collection calendars](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection)
  - Official wording: "Enter your address into the calendar tool above, then click:" … "Through the RDN Curbside app:" … "Your carts will have the RDN logo if you are serviced by the RDN."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** Each home gets a garbage cart (black lid; 80 L, 100 L default, or 240 L), a recycling cart (blue lid; 100 L, 240 L default, or 360 L) and a food waste cart (green lid; 100 L, or 240 L for extra). Request, exchange or report a damaged or missing cart on the RDN Curbside Collection Online Portal; only the registered owner can request. Exchanges of garbage and organics carts cost $75; recycling exchanges and damaged or missing carts are free. (Sources differ: Exchange requests can take up to 12 weeks; new, missing or damaged carts about 2 to 3 weeks. The 12-month limit comes from the bylaw consolidated to 1802.01.)
  - Source: [Curbside Collection Online Portal, Regional District of Nanaimo, Cart Sizes and Costs; Cart Request/Exchange Administration Fee](https://rdn.bc.ca/curbsideonline)
  - Official wording: "Garbage Cart (black lid)" … "Recycling Cart (blue lid)" … "Food Waste Cart (green lid) with gravity lock" … "an Administration Fee of $75 will be applied to the utility billing account." … "No Administration Fee will be charged for recycling cart exchanges." … "There is no administration fee for replacing missing carts."
  - Source: [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01), s. 21](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "21. The Owner or Occupier may request a change in Collection Cart size once within a 12 month period"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put carts out between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on collection day (not the night before), lids closed and unlocked, arrows facing the street, 1 m (3 ft) clear on all sides and 3 m overhead. Bring them in by 10 p.m. Collection runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  - Source: [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01), s. 25](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) place Collection Carts with the lids in the closed position, no earlier than 5 AM and prior to" … "8 AM:" … "PM on each designated Collection Day."
  - Source: [Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, How to use your carts](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection)
  - Official wording: "Space your carts 1m (3ft) apart" … "Face carts so that the arrows on the lid point to the street" … "The RDN's collection day window is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m."
  - Source: [2026 Sorting Guide, Regional District of Nanaimo, Friendly Reminders](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/2026%20Sorting%20Guide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the unlocked position when out for collection." … "Friendly Reminders: Please leave your carts in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** Carts must not be overfilled: the contractor will not collect excess volume beyond the cart. Extra capacity is by upsizing or adding a cart for a fee; no extra bag or tag system is described. Oversize items over two feet in any dimension, hazardous waste, flammables and construction waste are not accepted.
  - Source: [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01), ss. 19 and 20](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "19. The Contractor will not collect excess volumes of Garbage, Recyclables or Food Waste where they" … "exceed the capacity of the Collection Cart." … "make their own arrangement for disposal at an Approved Disposal Site." … "The Contractor will not collect excess volumes of Garbage, Recyclables or Food Waste where they exceed the capacity of the Collection Cart."
  - Source: [Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Basics](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection)
  - Official wording: "Oversize items exceeding two feet in any dimension"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Annual utility fee on the property's utility account, by garbage cart size (2026): 80 L $200; 100 L (default) $215; 240 L $305; two 100 L carts $305. Recycling carts cost nothing extra. A 240 L organics cart adds $50 a year; 100 L plus 240 L adds $70. (Sources differ: Conflict: the RDN portal page lists 2026 rates ($200, $215, $305) while Schedule A of the Bylaw 1802 copy consolidated to 1802.01 shows older amounts ($170 for 80 L, $180 for 100 L, $260 for 240 L, with a $15 prompt-payment discount). The portal page is newer; follow it. For a new utility account number in Parksville phone 250-248-6144.)
  - Source: [Curbside Collection Online Portal, Regional District of Nanaimo, Cart Sizes and Costs](https://rdn.bc.ca/curbsideonline)
  - Official wording: "| 80L | $200/year" … "| 100L (default option) | $215/year" … "| 240L | $305/year" … "100L + 240L | $70/year" … "| 240L | $50/year"
  - Source: [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01), Schedule A](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Utility Fees associated with Collection of Garbage, Recyclables and Food Waste" … "100L 80L $170 $155" … "240L 100L 100L $180 $165" … "360L 240L $260 $245"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Residential Curbside Collection of Garbage, Food Waste and Recyclables Regulation and Charges Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (Regional District of Nanaimo)
  - Source: [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01), s. 1](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Residential Curbside Collection of Garbage, Food Waste" … "and Recyclables Regulation and Charges Bylaw No. 1802, 2020”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The RDN runs curbside collection under its [Bylaw 1802](<https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf>). It serves single-family homes in the City of Parksville, including suites, duplexes to fourplexes and manufactured homes. Apartments, condos and commercial properties are not served. Each home gets a garbage cart (black lid; 80 L, 100 L default, or 240 L), a recycling cart (blue lid; 100 L, 240 L default, or 360 L) and a food waste cart (green lid; 100 L, or 240 L for extra).

## Steps

1. Enter your address in the RDN calendar tool on the curbside page to see or print your calendar, or sign up for reminders. You can also use the free "RDN Curbside" app (iPhone or Android).
2. Put carts out between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on collection day, not the night before, with lids closed and unlocked and arrows facing the street.
3. Leave 1 m (3 ft) clear on all sides and 3 m overhead.
4. Bring carts in by 10 p.m.
5. To request, exchange or report a damaged or missing cart, use the RDN Curbside Collection Online Portal. Only the registered owner can request.

## Good to know

- On a statutory holiday, all collection days move forward one day.
- Do not overfill carts: the contractor will not collect excess volume beyond the cart. Extra capacity is by upsizing or adding a cart for a fee. No extra bag or tag system is described.
- Not accepted: oversize items over two feet in any dimension, hazardous waste, flammables and construction waste.
- Exchanging a garbage or organics cart costs $75 on the RDN portal; Schedule A of the bylaw copy says $50. Recycling exchanges and damaged or missing carts are free. Exchange requests can take up to 12 weeks; new, missing or damaged carts about 2 to 3 weeks.
- Fees: the portal lists 2026 rates; the older bylaw copy shows lower ones. Follow the portal. For a new utility account number phone 250-248-6144.

## Official forms and pages

- [Curbside Collection Program Overview, RDN](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection)
- [Curbside Collection Online Portal](https://rdn.bc.ca/curbsideonline)
- [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw 1802 (PDF)](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/garbage-collection.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/garbage-collection.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/garbage-collection.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/garbage-collection.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/garbage-collection.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/curbside-collection) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Curbside Collection Online Portal, Regional District of Nanaimo](https://rdn.bc.ca/curbsideonline) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Residential Curbside Collection Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (consolidated to 1802.01) (PDF)](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/1802%20%28consolidated%20to%20.01%29_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [2026 Sorting Guide, Regional District of Nanaimo (PDF)](https://www.rdn.bc.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/2026%20Sorting%20Guide.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Garbage and Recycling, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=99) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Regional District of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/garbage-collection/_