Qualicum Beach garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

When is garbage collected in Qualicum Beach, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?

Qualicum Beach, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

How it works

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) runs curbside collection in Qualicum Beach through its contractor Waste Connections of Canada, under RDN Bylaw No. 1802. Garbage and recycling are collected every two weeks on an alternating cycle. The food waste (organics) cart is collected every week. Collection days move ahead for statutory holidays. It is for single-family homes only; the RDN does not serve apartments, condos or commercial properties.

Steps

1. Enter your address in the calendar tool on the Town's curbside page or the RDN's page to see or print your schedule, or get email or phone reminders. The free RDN Curbside app also works.
2. Put carts out between 5 and 8 a.m. on collection day, not the night before, and bring them in by 10 p.m.
3. Space carts 1 m apart with the lid arrows pointing at the street, lids closed, as close to the road as possible without blocking traffic, sidewalks or bike lanes, with 3 m of clearance above.
4. Leave carts out until 6 p.m. before reporting a missed pickup (collection runs 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Call Waste Connections at 250-248-8109.

Carts and limits

• Three carts: garbage (black lid), recycling (blue lid), organics (green lid).
• A single-family home's default is 100 L garbage, 240 L recycling and 100 L organics. Other sizes can be requested on the RDN Curbside Collection Online Portal ($75 administration fee per exchange).
• Carts must not exceed the weight limit or capacity marked on them. No extra-bag or tag system was found.
• Not accepted in any cart: items over two feet in any dimension, highly flammable or hazardous waste, liquids such as cooking oil, batteries, paint, pesticides, electronics, and construction or renovation waste.

Cost

The annual utility fee depends on garbage cart size. In the RDN Bylaw 1802 Schedule A (May 2022 consolidation): $170 for an 80 L cart, $180 for 100 L, and $260 for 240 L (with a 100 L organics cart). It is $15 less if paid by the due date. A 240 L organics cart costs $50 a year more ($70 as an additional cart). These rates may have changed, so confirm with the RDN.

Good to know

• The RDN page also says carts should be in place by 8 a.m. The Town's page says 5 to 8 a.m.