---
title: "Sidney garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits"
question: "When is garbage collected in Sidney, and what are the rules for carts, limits, and extra bags?"
place: Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sidney
category: Garbage, recycling and waste
owner: shared
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/garbage-collection/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/garbage-collection.json"
---

# Sidney garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits

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

**Short answer:** In Sidney, the Town's contractor (Emterra) collects garbage and kitchen organics weekly at the curb. The Capital Regional District (CRD) runs Blue Box recycling, biweekly on Mondays. Full Service costs $64 per unit per quarter. Find your day on the Town's zone map.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Full Service $64 per unit per quarter (garbage, kitchen organics and yard waste); Basic Service $44.25 (no yard waste). Extra garbage can or bag: $8 decal. Replacement 65 L organics container $70 in the bylaw ($78.40 on the Town's page).  
**How long:** not applicable  
**Where:**
- Online: Garbage and Kitchen Organics page (zone map PDF), https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/garbage-and-kitchen-organics
- Phone: Emterra (missed garbage pickup), 250-385-4399
- In person: Town Hall (decals, organics containers), 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y7
- Online: CRD recycling schedule app, https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/schedules-app

## Key facts

- **How often:** Garbage and kitchen organics: weekly curbside collection by the Town's contractor (Emterra). Blue Box recycling: biweekly on Mondays, run by the CRD. Yard waste (Full Service): twice a month in Bylaw s. 4 and s. 16, but 'monthly' in s. 2(j); check the yard waste zone schedule. (Sources differ: The Town's sources disagree on yard waste: Bylaw 2259 s. 4 and s. 16 and the yard page say twice a month, but s. 2(j) and the Town's rates page say 'monthly' (see the yard-waste sheet). Collection happens on all statutory holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.)
  - Source: [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259, consolidated through Bylaw 2307, ss. 2(b), 4](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Basic Service – means the weekly, curbside collection of waste from one garbage" … "Full Service: The weekly, curbside collection of garbage and kitchen organics and the" … "twice monthly collection of yard waste." … "as well as the monthly collection of yard"
  - Source: [Garbage and Recycling, intro](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/)
  - Official wording: "The Town of Sidney contracts out the collection of Garbage, Kitchen Organics, and Compostable Yard & Garden Waste to Emterra Environmental."
  - Source: [Recycling, Collection Schedule](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/recycling)
  - Official wording: "Recycling collection takes place biweekly on Mondays."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Finding your day:** Look up your zone on the Town's Garbage & Kitchen Organics collection zone map (a PDF on the Garbage & Kitchen Organics page). For recycling, use the CRD's recycling schedule app.
  - Source: [Garbage and Kitchen Organics, Collection Schedule](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/garbage-and-kitchen-organics)
  - Official wording: "Access the Garbage & Kitchen Organics Collection Schedule"
  - Source: [Recycling, Collection Schedule](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/recycling)
  - Official wording: "Access the CRD’s Recycling Schedule"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Carts:** The Town does not supply garbage cans; buy your own (80 L contract limit). The bylaw says the contractor supplies a 65 L wheeled organics container to each address; Schedule A lists a $70 replacement, but the Town's page sells it at Town Hall for $78.40. CRD gives one blue box and two blue bags per home. (Sources differ: Conflict: the Town page says the 65 L organics container costs $78.40 at Town Hall; Bylaw 2259 Schedule A lists replacement cost of the 65 L container at $70 (8 L tote $25; 240 L $90). Bylaw wins for the replacement cost. Bylaw s. 2(n) describes the 65 L container as supplied to each service address.)
  - Source: [Garbage and Kitchen Organics, Garbage Containers; Kitchen Organics Containers](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/garbage-and-kitchen-organics)
  - Official wording: "The Town does not provide garbage containers – these can be purchased at local hardware stores." … "65L wheeled green curbside containers for kitchen organics collection can be purchased at Town Hall for $78.40"
  - Source: [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259, consolidated through Bylaw 2307, Schedule A](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Replacement Organics Container Cost" … "Replacement Organics Container Cost - 65 Litre Container: $70.00" … "A kitchen organics waste collection" … "65 Litre Container: $70.00"
  - Source: [Recycling, Blue Boxes & Bags](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/recycling)
  - Official wording: "The CRD recycling program provides residents with one blue box and two blue bags per home."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Setting carts out:** Put garbage and kitchen organics at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on collection day (recycling by 7:30 a.m.). Do not block streets, lanes or sidewalks, and take emptied containers off the street after collection.
  - Source: [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259, consolidated through Bylaw 2307, s. 19(b), (c), (h)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Place their garbage and kitchen organics collection containers at the curbside no" … "later than 7:00 a.m. on the Collection Day." … "Remove all emptied containers from the street after the collection and keep all"
  - Source: [Recycling, Collection Schedule](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/recycling)
  - Official wording: "Items must be placed at the curbside by 7:30 am."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits and extra garbage:** One garbage can or bag per home per week, at most 80 L and 20 kg. Extra cans or bags need an extra volume decal ($8 each, from Town Hall or Thrifty Foods Sidney); bags without one are not collected.
  - Source: [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259, consolidated through Bylaw 2307, ss. 11, 13](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)
  - Official wording: "one garbage container of no more than 80 litres in capacity and with a weight of no more than 20" … "Any bags in excess of the basic service that do not display a valid extra"
  - Source: [Garbage and Kitchen Organics, Garbage Containers](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/garbage-and-kitchen-organics)
  - Official wording: "which are available for purchase at Sidney Town Hall or Thrifty Foods Sidney for $8.00 each."
  - Source: [Refuse Collection Rates, Dealing with Extra Refuse](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/refuse-collection-rates/)
  - Official wording: "$8.00 per extra bag/can"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Full Service $64 per unit per quarter (garbage, kitchen organics and yard waste); Basic Service $44.25 (no yard waste). Single and two-family homes must take Full Service. Billed quarterly on the utility bill. Blue Box recycling is not billed by the Town; it is in CRD taxes.
  - Source: [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259, consolidated through Bylaw 2307, Schedule A; s. 5](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Quarterly Rate $64.00 $44.25 $106.50" … "Single Family Dwelling Units and Two-Family Dwelling Units must use the Town’s refuse collection service"
  - Source: [Refuse Collection Rates, Waste Collection Rates](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/refuse-collection-rates/)
  - Official wording: "Refuse operating costs are paid 100% through User Charges." … "Quarterly Rate $64.00 $44.25 $106.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259
  - Source: [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259, consolidated through Bylaw 2307, s. 1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Collection and Disposal of Refuse" … "Bylaw No. 2259"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of Sidney contracts Emterra to collect garbage and kitchen organics weekly under the [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf). Single and two-family homes must take Full Service, billed quarterly on the utility bill. Yard waste on Full Service is collected twice a month in the bylaw's rules section, but the bylaw's definition says "monthly"; confirm on the zone schedule (see the yard waste answer). Blue Box recycling is the CRD's service, biweekly on Mondays, and is paid through CRD taxes.

## Steps

1. Look up your zone on the Town's Garbage and Kitchen Organics collection zone map (a PDF on that page). For recycling, use the CRD's recycling schedule app.
2. Put garbage and kitchen organics at the curb before 7:00 a.m. on collection day (recycling by 7:30 a.m.).
3. Do not block streets, lanes or sidewalks, and take emptied containers off the street after collection.
4. Missed pickup: call Emterra at 250-385-4399.

## Good to know

- Limit: one garbage can or bag per home per week, at most 80 L and 20 kg. The Town does not supply garbage cans; buy your own.
- Extra cans or bags need an extra volume decal ($8 each, from Town Hall or Thrifty Foods Sidney). Bags without a decal are not collected.
- The bylaw says the contractor supplies a 65 L wheeled organics container to each address. Schedule A lists a $70 replacement; the Town's page sells it at Town Hall for $78.40, so confirm the price.
- The CRD gives one blue box and two blue bags per home.
- Set containers out weekly unless completely empty.
- Collection happens on all statutory holidays except Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
- A 5% penalty applies 31 days after the due date. Rates shown are marked January 1, 2024.

## Official forms and pages

- [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sidney yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/yard-waste.md)
- [Sidney backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/backyard-fire.md)
- [Sidney bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Garbage collection in British Columbia: frequency, limits and fees by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/garbage-collection.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/garbage-collection.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/garbage-collection.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/garbage-collection.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/garbage-collection.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/garbage-collection.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/garbage-collection.md)

## Sources

- [Collection and Disposal of Refuse Bylaw No. 2259 (PDF), consolidated through Bylaw 2307](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2259-Collection-and-Disposal-of-Refuse.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garbage and Recycling, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Garbage and Kitchen Organics, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/garbage-and-kitchen-organics) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Recycling, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/recycling) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Refuse Collection Rates, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/garbage-recycle/refuse-collection-rates/) (read 2026-11-06)

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