Qualicum Beach yard waste collection and drop-off
Where does yard waste and brush go in Qualicum Beach?
Short answer
In Qualicum Beach, leaves, grass and light trimmings go in the green organics cart, collected weekly by the Regional District of Nanaimo. The Town runs a branch chipping program each spring and fall. Garden waste can also go to the RDN Church Road Transfer Station in Parksville.
Key facts
| Curbside collection | Yes, in the green organics cart (RDN, collected weekly): leaves, grass and light trimmings (prunings, hedge clippings, flowers, weeds, stems and branches). Separately, the Town runs a seasonal branch chipping program each spring (early March) and fall (early October), with branches placed curbside in a pile.Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Accepted types of organic waste; Wood Chipping Program · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLeaves, grass, and light trimmings are accepted. Light trimmings include prunings, hedge clippings, flowers, weeds and stems and branches. Each year the Town offers a seasonal chipping program in both Spring (early March) and Fall (early October) |
|---|---|
| How to set it out | In the organics cart: each piece no thicker than 1.5 cm and no longer than 60 cm. Chipping program: one pile per property, up to 8 ft x 8 ft x 5 ft high, branches under 4 inches thick, butt ends facing the same direction, out no earlier than 3 weeks before and before the first day of your collection (the chipper visits once). Larger lots may have more piles (2 piles for 0.5 to 1 acre).Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Accepted types; Wood Chipping Program, Yes · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo larger than 1.5 cm (0.5 inches) in diameter; and, No longer than 60 cm (2 feet) in length. Maximum pile of 8ft x 8ft x 5ft high Branches under 4 inches in diameter The chipper will only visit your street ONCE 2 Piles: Properties greater than 0.5 acres |
| Drop-off | RDN Church Road Transfer Station, 860 Church Road, Parksville: open Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed statutory holidays except Easter Monday. Call 250.248.5254 for rates and information.Wood Chipping Program, What If I Have Larger Volumes of Waste?; Solid Waste Disposal Facilities, Regional District of Nanaimo, Hours · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRegional District of Nanaimo Transfer Station 860 Church Road, Parksville Call 250.248.5254 for rates and further information. Monday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are close for all provincial and federal Statutory Holidays, except Easter Monday. |
| Cost | No charge is stated for the organics cart (part of the utility bill) or the Town chipping program. Garden waste at the RDN Church Road Transfer Station: $8 for up to 50 kg, then $160 per tonne (100 kg or more).Solid Waste Disposal Facilities, Regional District of Nanaimo, Tipping Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingGarden Waste (including invasive plant species) | $8 (up to 50kg) | $160/tonne (100+kg) |
| Not accepted | Organics cart: anything over 1.5 cm thick or 60 cm long, soil, rocks and sod, sawdust or shop sweepings, lumber and construction waste, pet waste, and listed invasive plants such as giant hogweed and knotweed. Chipping: grass clippings, leaves and soft plant material, piles over the size limit, piles with gravel, dirt or dirt-covered roots, and branches over 4 inches thick.Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Not accepted as yard waste; Wood Chipping Program, No · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSoil, rocks and sod. Lumber, construction or renovation waste The following invasive plants are not accepted in the organics cart: Grass clippings, leaves, soft plant materials (eg. flowers) Branches in excess of 4 inches in diameter |
| Bylaw | RDN Residential Curbside Collection of Garbage, Food Waste and Recyclables Regulation and Charges Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 (organics cart). The chipping program runs under a Town policy (Wood Chipping Program 3012-11), not a bylaw.Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo, Starting or discontinuing; Wood Chipping Program, Related Links; RDN Bylaw No. 1802 (consolidated to .01), Bylaw 1802 s.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingper RDN Bylaw 1802. 860 Church Road, Parksville Call 250.248.5254 for rates and further information. ### Related Links Wood Chipping Policy Residential Curbside Collection of Garbage, Food Waste and Recyclables Regulation and Charges Bylaw No. 1802, 2020 |
How it works
Organics cart. The RDN collects the green organics cart weekly. It takes leaves, grass and light trimmings (prunings, hedge clippings, flowers, weeds, stems and branches). Each piece must be no thicker than 1.5 cm and no longer than 60 cm. See RDN Bylaw No. 1802.
Chipping program. The Town runs a seasonal branch chipping program each spring (early March) and fall (early October). Place branches curbside in a pile.
Drop-off. RDN Church Road Transfer Station, 860 Church Road, Parksville, is open Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on statutory holidays except Easter Monday. Call 250-248-5254 for rates and information.
Chipping steps
- Make one pile per property, up to 8 ft x 8 ft x 5 ft high. Larger lots may have more piles (2 piles for 0.5 to 1 acre).
- Use branches under 4 inches thick, with the butt ends facing the same direction.
- Put the pile out no earlier than 3 weeks before, and before the first day of, your collection. The chipper visits once.
Not accepted
- Organics cart: anything over 1.5 cm thick or 60 cm long, soil, rocks and sod, sawdust or shop sweepings, lumber and construction waste, pet waste, and listed invasive plants such as giant hogweed and knotweed.
- Chipping: grass clippings, leaves and soft plant material, piles over the size limit, piles with gravel, dirt or dirt-covered roots, and branches over 4 inches thick.
Good to know
- No charge is stated for the organics cart (part of the utility bill) or the chipping program.
- Garden waste at the transfer station is $8 for up to 50 kg, then $160 per tonne (100 kg or more). Confirm current rates with the RDN.
- Check the Town's chipping page for this year's dates.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Parksville · Lantzville · Port Alberni · Nanaimo · Sechelt · Comox
Yard waste collection in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Wood Chipping Program, Town of Qualicum Beach (read 2026-11-06)
- Curbside Collection Program Overview, Regional District of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-06)
- RDN Bylaw No. 1802 (consolidated to .01) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Solid Waste Disposal Facilities, Regional District of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-06)
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.