Garbage and recycling are collected every second week, on alternating weeks. Organics —including kitchen and yard waste — is collected weekly.
To make sure your waste is collected, set your carts out at their collection point between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
Your collection day depends on where you live. The City has four collection zones to improve efficiency and reliability. Your collection day will shift by one day after each weekday statutory holiday (the add-a-day schedule).
Courtenay Collects
Sign up for weekly reminders and service alerts using the Calendar tool with the Courtenay Collects app.
Enter your home address in the search box under the calendar.
Scroll down and click "Get a reminder!"
Pick the reminder you'd like to receive. You can sign up for multiple reminders.
Use the Waste Wizard tool to look up how and where to recycle, compost or dispose of your waste items.
Automated collection uses wheeled carts and collection trucks with mechanical arms. This system improves efficiency, reduces worker injuries and contains waste securely.
Standardized carts are required—personal carts will not be collected.
Extra waste outside the carts will not be collected.
Garbage and recycling alternate bi-weekly; organics are collected weekly.
The add-a-day schedule remains in effect after statutory holidays.
Households cannot opt out of the curbside collection service.
Carts are City property and assigned to your address.
Single residential dwellings and duplex units receive one set of the following carts:
360 L recycling (blue lid)
360 L organics (green lid)
120 L garbage (black lid)
Homes with a legal secondary suite or carriage house (who pay two garbage fees) receive a second, smaller set of carts:
240 L recycling (blue lid)
120 L organics (green lid)
120 L garbage (black lid)
Patio homes, townhouses, fourplexes and mobile homes in mobile home parks receive one set of the following carts:
240 L recycling (blue lid)
120 L organics (green lid)
120 L garbage (black lid)
Cart size
Height
Width
Depth
360 L
110 cm (43 in)
74 cm (29 in)
85 cm (33 in)
240 L
110 cm (43 in)
68 cm (27 in)
68 cm (27 in)
120 L
95 cm (37 in)
47 cm (18.5 in)
61 cm (24 in)
Additional garbage, recycling and organics carts are available for an extra annual service fee. This fee is based on full cost recovery for the selected cart size.
Cart size exchanges: A cart exchange program will begin in fall 2025 with a $65 administration fee per household.
Waste collection billing FAQs
The City’s contractor is Emterra Environmental. For questions or concerns, contact them directly at 250-336-8066 or info@emterra.ca.
No. All single-family homes follow the same collection schedule set by the residential curbside collection program. Your garbage fee is included in your annual Property Tax Notice.
Yes. If you have difficulty moving your carts, the City offers an assisted set-out service for a yearly fee. To sign up, contact Operational Services at 250-338-1525 or solidwaste@courtenay.ca.
