Courtenay Garbage Collection Helper: Pickup Day, 2026 Zone Calendar, Organics, Recycling and Comox Valley Waste Centre
This guide is built for the exact Courtenay resident moment: you need to know your zone, whether garbage or recycling goes out this week, when the green organics cart is collected, why your cart was missed, what goes in each cart, and when to use the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre instead of curbside pickup.
Quick Answer: How to Check the Courtenay Garbage Schedule
Use the City of Courtenay Collection Zones and Schedule page, the 2026 Zone A/B/C/D PDF calendars, or the Courtenay Collects app. Garbage and recycling are collected every second week on alternating weeks. Organics, including kitchen scraps and yard waste, are collected weekly. Carts must be set out at the collection point between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
📅 Which Week Am I On? — Garbage or Recycling?
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Find your zone
Courtenay uses four collection zones. Your pickup day depends on where you live, so confirm your zone before setting out carts.
Garbage or recycling week?
Garbage and recycling both run every second week, but they alternate. The calendar tells you whether the black lid or blue lid cart goes out.
Green lid every week
Organics are collected weekly. Tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, food-soiled paper towels and food-soiled cardboard containers are accepted in the organics cart.
If you remember only one thing, remember this: green lid weekly, black and blue lids alternating, and the add-a-day schedule after weekday statutory holidays.
What Courtenay Residents Usually Need Today
Most people are not reading for theory. They need one fast answer before collection morning, after a missed cart, during a holiday week, or before driving a load to Cumberland.
I need my pickup day
Open the Collection Zones and Schedule page or Courtenay Collects, enter your address, and confirm your zone and cart colour.
I need the right cart
Black lid garbage and blue lid recycling alternate every second week. Green lid organics goes weekly.
My cart was missed
Check set-out time, spacing, lid, arrows and accepted materials. Then contact Operational Services at 250-338-1525.
I need the garbage dump
Use the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre at 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland, for landfill and special disposal options.
Official Courtenay 2026 Collection Zone Calendar and Courtenay Collects App
Courtenay’s schedule is zone-based. The City has Zone A, Zone B, Zone C and Zone D guides for 2026, plus the Courtenay Collects app and Waste Wizard. Use the official online guide because the City noted a printed-guide correction for organics items in the December 2025 mailout.
Open the collection zones page
Start on the City’s Collection Zones and Schedule page. It links to the corrected 2026 PDF guides for each zone.
Use the address reminder tool
Enter your home address in the calendar search box, then choose reminders through Courtenay Collects if you want weekly alerts.
Check the cart colour
Garbage and recycling alternate every second week. Organics are weekly, so do not skip the green lid unless the calendar or City alert says otherwise.
Apply the add-a-day holiday rule
After each weekday statutory holiday, collection days shift by one day for that week. Check the calendar before placing carts out after holidays.
Courtenay Garbage, Recycling and Organics Cart Rules
Courtenay uses standardized wheeled carts. Personal carts are not collected, extra material outside the carts is not collected, and carts are City property assigned to your address.
Garbage every second week
Garbage is collected every second week. Secure all garbage in tied or sealed bags. Do not loop bags around the top of the cart because they can spill when the cart is emptied.
- Use the black lid cart for regular garbage.
- Keep the lid completely closed.
- Do not put yard waste, recyclables, construction waste, batteries, paint or sharps in garbage.
- Contact Operational Services for home healthcare waste disposal guidance.
Recycling every second week
Recycling is collected every second week on the alternating schedule. Materials must be loose in the cart. Do not place recyclables in clear plastic bags. Shredded paper should be contained in a paper bag or cardboard box.
- Use for accepted paper, cardboard, plastic and metal packaging.
- Place materials loose, not bagged.
- Flatten cardboard to save cart space.
- Use Waste Wizard for confusing items.
Organics every week
Organics include food scraps and yard waste. Courtenay’s corrected 2026 guidance confirms tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, food-soiled paper towels and food-soiled cardboard containers are accepted.
- Use for food scraps and accepted yard waste.
- No compostable or biodegradable plastic bags.
- Use unlined paper bags, newspaper or food-soiled cardboard.
- Lock the lid when stored, unless stored securely in a garage or shed.
Single residential dwellings and duplexes receive a 360 L recycling cart, 360 L organics cart and 120 L garbage cart. Patio homes, townhouses, fourplexes and mobile homes in mobile home parks receive smaller 240 L recycling, 120 L organics and 120 L garbage carts.
Courtenay Cart Set-Out Rules: 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., 1 Metre Spacing and Closed Lids
Cart placement matters because Courtenay uses automated trucks with mechanical arms. A cart can be missed even on the right day if it is too close to obstacles, facing the wrong way, overflowing or blocked by traffic, sidewalks or bike lanes.
Pickup-ready setup
- Place carts at the collection point between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.
- Put carts close to the road without blocking traffic, sidewalks or bike lanes.
- Leave at least 1 metre / 3 feet around each cart.
- Keep 3 metres of clearance above carts.
- Keep lids completely closed.
- Point the lid arrows toward the street.
Common missed-cart triggers
- Setting carts out late after 8 a.m.
- Using personal carts instead of City carts.
- Leaving extra waste outside the cart.
- Using clear plastic bags in the recycling cart.
- Using compostable plastic bags in the green cart.
- Blocking sidewalks, bike lanes or the truck’s mechanical arm access.
Keep lids fully closed and avoid packing carts so tightly that material sticks. Wet cardboard, heavy organics and jammed garbage can stop a cart from emptying properly.
Official Cart Video: Courtenay and Comox Automated Collection Guide
This official-style guide video is useful for understanding the automated cart system and cart placement basics. Always use the current Courtenay 2026 schedule page, Waste Wizard and cart pages for final details.
Watch for cart placement and automated collection context, then confirm your exact zone and date through Courtenay Collects.
Courtenay Organics Collection: Food Scraps, Yard Waste and Paper Liners
Organics are collected every week in Courtenay. The green lid cart is for food scraps and accepted yard waste. The most important rule is no compostable or biodegradable plastic bags because they do not break down during the local composting process and can contaminate finished compost.
Food scraps and soiled paper
Food scraps, soiled paper, leaves, grass clippings, flowers, plants, tree or hedge prunings and branches up to 3 inches in diameter are accepted when they fit inside the cart with the lid closed.
Paper, newspaper or no liner
You can use standard paper grocery bags, paper-only compostable liners, brown paper yard-waste bags, folded newspaper or no liner at all.
No bioplastic bags or animal waste
Do not put compostable plastic bags, shiny bioplastic-lined paper, large amounts of soil or sod, liquid grease, animal feces, litter, diapers, rocks, stumps, treated wood or invasive plants in the organics cart.
When yard waste does not fit in your green cart, check the City organics page for seasonal yard waste drop-off dates at the end of McKenzie Avenue next to the City Operations Centre.
Courtenay Recycling Collection: Loose Materials, Blue Lid Cart and Waste Wizard
Courtenay recycling is collected every second week. The blue lid cart is for accepted recyclable packaging and paper. Materials must be placed loose in the cart, not in clear plastic bags, and shredded paper must be contained in a paper bag or cardboard box.
Paper, cardboard, plastics and metal
Accepted curbside recycling includes many papers, flattened cardboard and paper packaging, rigid plastic packaging, tins, cans, clean aluminum foil and clean aluminum take-out containers.
Loose, clean and dry
Loose material helps automated recycling sorting. Do not use clear plastic bags for the blue lid cart, and keep the lid completely closed.
Use Waste Wizard before guessing
Some materials, such as electronics, musical greeting cards, batteries, hazardous items and special packaging, may need depot drop-off instead of the curbside cart.
When in doubt, use Courtenay’s Waste Wizard tool instead of putting a questionable item in the blue lid cart. A small sorting check can prevent contamination and missed collection.
Courtenay Garbage Dump: Comox Valley Waste Management Centre
The main regional disposal option for Courtenay residents is the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre at 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0. It is commonly what residents mean when they search for the Courtenay garbage dump, even though it is located near Cumberland and managed by Comox Strathcona Waste Management.
3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland
Follow the official directions from Courtenay through Comox Valley Parkway and Cumberland Road, then onto Bevan Road.
8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Comox Valley Waste Management Centre is listed as open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed on statutory holidays.
250-334-6016
Call before visiting if you are unsure about fees, hazardous waste, construction material, recycling drop-off or late-opening training days.
Sort the load
Separate regular garbage, recyclable material, clean wood, yard waste, electronics, metals, appliances, household hazardous waste and reusable items before you arrive.
Hazardous waste has specific days
CSWM lists household hazardous waste hours at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Verify before travelling.
Missed Collection in Courtenay: What to Check Before Calling
If a cart was not picked up, the City directs residents to Operational Services. Before reporting it, check the common reasons a cart may be skipped.
Was it out between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.?
Collection timing can vary. If your cart was placed out late, wait for your next scheduled collection day.
Was the truck arm blocked?
Check whether the cart had 1 metre of space around it, 3 metres overhead clearance, arrows facing the street and no sidewalk, bike lane or traffic blockage.
Was it the wrong item or wrong cart?
Extra waste outside carts, personal carts, bagged recyclables, compostable plastic bags in organics, hazardous items and construction waste can all cause problems.
For missed collection or cart questions, contact Courtenay Operational Services at 250-338-1525 or operations@courtenay.ca. For contractor concerns, the City lists Emterra Environmental at 250-336-8066 or info@emterra.ca.
Houses, Duplexes, Townhouses, Suites, Apartments and Commercial Properties
Courtenay curbside collection is easiest for single residential dwellings and duplexes, but cart size and service details can differ for suites, townhouses, mobile home parks, multi-residential and commercial properties.
Full standard cart set
Single residential dwellings and duplex units receive a 360 L recycling cart, 360 L organics cart and 120 L garbage cart.
Second smaller cart set
Homes with a legal secondary suite or carriage house that pay two garbage fees receive a second smaller set of carts.
Smaller standard set
Patio homes, townhouses, fourplexes and mobile homes in mobile home parks receive 240 L recycling, 120 L organics and 120 L garbage carts.
If you live in an apartment, condo or commercial property, do not assume single-family curbside rules apply. Confirm with your property manager, business owner or City Operational Services.
Official Courtenay Garbage Collection Links
Use these official and trusted links for final decisions because collection dates, zone maps, cart rules, yard waste dates, accepted items and waste centre hours can change.
Courtenay Garbage Schedule FAQ
How do I check my Courtenay garbage pickup day?
Use the City of Courtenay Collection Zones and Schedule page, the 2026 Zone A/B/C/D PDF guides, or the Courtenay Collects app. Enter your address to confirm your collection zone and pickup day.
Is Courtenay garbage collected every week?
No. Garbage is collected every second week in Courtenay. Recycling is also collected every second week on alternating weeks. Organics are collected weekly.
What time should Courtenay carts be out?
Place carts at the collection point between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
What spacing do Courtenay carts need?
Leave at least 1 metre or 3 feet of space around each cart and 3 metres of clearance above. Lids must be completely closed and arrows should point toward the street.
Can I put extra garbage beside my Courtenay cart?
No. The City says extra waste outside the carts will not be collected. Use the correct cart, request additional service if needed, or take extra disposal to the appropriate regional facility.
Can I use my own garbage can in Courtenay?
No. Courtenay uses standardized City carts. Personal carts will not be collected.
What goes in the Courtenay green organics cart?
Accepted organics include food scraps, soiled paper, leaves, grass clippings, flowers, plants, prunings and small branches that fit in the cart. Tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, food-soiled paper towels and food-soiled cardboard containers are accepted.
Can I use compostable plastic bags in Courtenay organics?
No. Compostable and biodegradable plastic bags are not allowed in the green organics cart. Use unlined paper bags, newspaper, food-soiled cardboard or no liner.
How do I report missed collection in Courtenay?
Contact Courtenay Operational Services at 250-338-1525 or operations@courtenay.ca after checking that the cart was out on time, spaced correctly, lid closed and filled with accepted material.
Where is the Courtenay garbage dump?
The main regional disposal facility for Courtenay is the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre at 3699 Bevan Road, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0.
What are the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre hours?
The centre is listed as open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed on statutory holidays. Check CSWM before visiting because late openings and special program hours can occur.
Who is Courtenay’s curbside collection contractor?
The City lists Emterra Environmental as the residential curbside collection contractor. For contractor questions or concerns, the City lists 250-336-8066 and info@emterra.ca.
Editorial and Source Verification Note
This independent Courtenay garbage collection guide was prepared for garbage-collection.org using official City of Courtenay solid waste pages, the 2026 collection zone schedule information, Courtenay Collects guidance, garbage, recycling, organics and collection cart rules, Operational Services contact details, Emterra contractor information and Comox Strathcona Waste Management facility information.
Always verify live details with the City of Courtenay, Courtenay Collects, Waste Wizard, Operational Services, Emterra Environmental or Comox Strathcona Waste Management before setting out carts, reporting missed collection, requesting carts, disposing of special material or driving to the waste centre.
Final Resident Summary: Bookmark This Before Courtenay Collection Morning
The fastest way to use the Courtenay garbage schedule is simple: open Courtenay Collects or the Collection Zones and Schedule page, confirm your zone, check whether it is black lid garbage or blue lid recycling week, and set the green lid organics cart out weekly.
Place carts out between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., leave 1 metre of space around each cart, keep 3 metres of overhead clearance, close lids completely and point arrows toward the street. Extra waste outside the carts and personal carts are not collected.
For larger disposal, special materials, landfill trips or the “garbage dump Courtenay” search intent, use the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre at 3699 Bevan Road in Cumberland. Check hours, fees and household hazardous waste timing before loading your vehicle.