Curbside Collection

CVRD Curbside Collection Program

On June 2, 2025, the CVRD launched the Three-Stream Curbside collection service for all single-family properties in Electoral Areas. The service includes organics, recyclables, garbage and glass, which is collected at the following frequencies:

• Food and yard waste are collected every week in the green bin.
• Recyclables are collected every two weeks in the blue bin.
• Garbage is collected every two weeks in the black bin.
• Glass bottles and jars are collected every four weeks in the yellow bin.

Why Three-Stream?

Did you know that with the current garbage disposal rate, British Columbia is expected to run out of landfill space in about 23 years? While the CVRD is working with other jurisdictions to address the shrinking landfill capacity issue, we must also focus on minimizing the needless landfilling of reusable materials. Composting is a key strategy in the CVRD’s Solid Waste Management Plan to reduce waste in our region. 

The Cowichan Valley’s landfill was deemed full in the late 1990s and thus was closed. Before the closure, the CVRD tried to find an appropriate alternative, including siting a new landfill in our region, which was ultimately unsuccessful. With no local landfill, all garbage is exported over 700 km to Washington State—an increasingly expensive, dangerous and environmentally taxing solution, especially with the fires and floods associated with climate change. Yet, 33% of our garbage contains organic material that could be composted instead. The curbside organics service helps tackle this by accepting items unsuitable for most backyard composters, such as meat, dairy, grains, bones, and cooked food. By composting, we keep valuable materials in circulation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move toward a more sustainable future for the Cowichan Valley. 

Guidelines for Successful Collection

Totes should be placed as close to the roadway as possible, without becoming a hazard by blocking sidewalks, cycling lanes, or roadways

• Sort your waste materials correctly
  1. Review the organics, recyclables, garbage and glass webpages to learn what belongs in the totes and what must be taken to a Recycling Centre.
  2. Use the Cowichan Recyclopedia, or download the Cowichan Recycles app on Google Play or the Apple App Store to find out how to dispose of a specific item.
  3. Please ensure that materials are kept loose within the blue recyclable tote and yellow glass bin.
• Be Bear Aware and do not leave your totes out overnight.
  • Set your totes out between 5:00 AM and 7:30 AM on collection day, and leave them out until 7:00 PM.
• Space your totes one metre apart from each other and surrounding objects
  1. Automated mechanical arms pick up the totes and need a certain amount of clearance to work effectively. Place all totes at least one metre (three feet) apart from each other and surrounding objects such as vehicles, poles, and utility boxes.
  2. Ensure that there is a three metre (ten feet) clearance from overhanging obstacles.
  3. Leave two meters (6.5 feet) clearance behind totes
  4. In snowy weather, this includes placing your tote one metre (three feet) away from snowbanks and other debris. Please do not place your totes on snowbanks.
• Ensure that all material fits inside your totes with the lid fully closed
  1. When tipped, overfilled totes can spill material onto the road.
  2. Material placed beside the tote will not be accepted.
• Point the tote lid to open toward the street
  • Ensure that the arrows on the lid point toward the street.
• Avoid obstructing sidewalks with your totes
  • Totes should be placed as close to the roadway as possible, without becoming a hazard by blocking sidewalks, cycling lanes, or roadways.

FAQ’s