City of Courtenay residents with excess yard waste this season have another option for responsible disposal: the drop-off collection point at the end of McKenzie Avenue will be available again for a limited time this fall.
The free seasonal yard waste drop-off program is open to Courtenay residents receiving curbside collection through the City who have excess yard waste that does not fit into their curbside collection container. The yard waste drop-off is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from November 1 to November 28, 2025.
“We recognize that some households accumulate more yard waste than others, particularly during fall clean-up as residents prepare their gardens and outdoor spaces for the colder months,” said Chris Thompson, Manager of Public Works Services at the City of Courtenay. “Following the strong uptake of the program earlier this year, we’ve included Saturday drop-off dates to make it easier for residents who may not be available during the week.”
McKenzie Avenue is located next to the City Operations Yard (formerly Public Works) and is accessed from Cumberland Road just west of the train tracks between McPhee and Piercy avenues.
Accepted materials for drop-off include leaves, grass clippings, flowers, plants and small branches less than 3 inches in diameter. Materials can be either loose or contained in a paper yard waste bag.
“It’s essential that yard waste is free from any non-organic materials,” Thompson added. “We kindly ask residents to double-check that items like plastic pots, pet toys, and other debris are removed before drop-off.”
Plastic bags, even if they are labeled compostable/biodegradable, are not accepted at the drop-off or in curbside organics carts. Food waste and food-soiled paper are not accepted at the drop-off point and should go in each household’s curbside organics cart.
City staff will be monitoring the drop-off point throughout the weekdays. Yard waste collected through the pilot program will be composted. Should a resident require assistance unloading once on-site, they may call City Operations at 250-338-1525 so a staff member can assist. An attendant will be onsite each Saturday.
Residents who regularly need to dispose of larger amounts of yard waste have the option to request an extra organics cart from the City for an additional annual fee. To learn more about this option, email the City’s solid waste team at solidwaste@courtenay.ca
For more information on the seasonal yard waste drop-off pilot project and curbside organics collection, visit www.courtenay.ca/organics