The Town of Comox provides three distinct curbside collection options for participating households, which include garbage, Blue Box Recycling, and organics collection (yard and kitchen waste).
Get the 2021 Curbside Schedule here.
NEW WASTE COLLECTION SCHEDULE CHANGES IN 2021
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) that manages the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre, has advised the Town that effective January 1, 2021 the area landfill will be closed on all recognized statutory holidays. As a result, the Town of Comox 2021 waste collection schedule will change.
If you are a resident, business or strata manager that receives curbside pick up: Your schedule will start on a different day the first full week of January 2021, and then change three times throughout the year as a result of the above noted closures. A 2021 Curbside Waste Collection Guide will be mailed to all residents and businesses in December, which outlines the collection schedule. To view and print the 2021 Curbside Waste Collection Schedule, click here; find your Zone area and colour on the map, and then look for the corresponding dates on the calendar.
If you are a business or strata manager that receives frontend container collection services: You may need to reschedule an alternate date with Emterra Environmental, if you have pick up dates that fall on a statutory holiday, or wait until the next scheduled pick up date for collection. If you have questions or wish to address rescheduling that may be required, please contact Emterra Environmental (250) 336-8066.
ORGANICS COMPOST PROGRAM (Yard & Kitchen Waste):
By separating food and yard waste from regular garbage, this helps reduce the production of methane, one of the more potent greenhouse gases in terms of warming the atmosphere. Further, diverting unnecessary waste from the landfill will extend the life of the current facility, rather than needing to invest in a new one, which is a significant and costly project.
Here are some helpful tips and resources:
What items can be collected?
The curbside organics collection program allows for an extensive range of kitchen waste to be collected such as dairy products, fruit & vegetables, fish & shellfish, and coffee filters, to food soiled paper from take away meals. It also includes yard trimmings such as grass, leaves and light trimmings (see full list below). All of the eligible items are picked up weekly by the same truck. View the full list of organic items that can and cannot be included here.
What bins can be used?
Kitchen Containers:
Residents can use any containers of their choosing to collect food scraps from the kitchen.
- Re-use a large yogurt or ice cream container.
- Purchase a kitchen container from a local retailer.
- Use newspaper/paper bags to line your container and wrap your food scraps.
- During hot weather, it may be advisable to freeze kitchen scraps until collection day, to help reduce odours and attract wildlife.
Curbside Containers:
- Both food and yard waste can be included in the same curbside container, providing it has a secure lid, and no plastic bags included (even if labelled biodegradable or compostable).
- Containers can be lined with paper bags and/or newspaper.
- A free Organics Compost Program label for your yard waste and organics can(s) or bin(s) can be picked up at Town Hall, 1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
How to Keep Out Pests and Insects:
Wildlife and insects may be attracted to garbage. Keeping odours down helps avoid unwanted visitors. A few tips include:
- Wrap food in paper bags or newsprint.
- Freeze food scraps until collection day.
- Containers should be cleaned regularly with mild soap or vinegar, and have tight, waterproof lids, and be kept in secure locations.
- Curbside containers and cans should only be placed at the curb on collection day, not the night before.
- Vinegar or baking soda are effective odour eliminators.
Unlimited Weekly Pick Up:
- An unlimited number of containers can be placed at the curb, however, each container maximum is 77 litres in volume or 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in weight.
- To help reduce odours, take advantage of placing your unlimited organics items at the curb weekly.
- The same truck picks up organics and yard waste.
- Have your organic waste at the curb by 8 am – do not put it out the night before.
To learn more about a new Regional Organics Composting facility project being undertaken by the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), click here.
YARD WASTE
Weekly collection from single-family homes & duplexes on garbage day all year round – *unlimited quantity. Have your yard waste at the curb by 8 am – if it contains Kitchen Waste then do not put it out the night before.
The organics truck that currently collects the Yard Waste also collects the Kitchen Waste, as both are part of the Organics Compost Program.
What is an acceptable container?
- Garbage Can with lid or a Paper Yard Waste Bag which is marked as being 100% compostable or 100% biodegradable – plastic bags are no longer permitted due to the machinery being used at the new composting facility.
- All organics (yard & kitchen waste) containers must have a secure lid and plastic bags of any kind, are not permitted. If you want to line your container you may use a paper bag or newspaper.
*Volume & Weight Limits:
An unlimited number of containers can be placed at the curb, however, each container maximum is 77 litres in volume or 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in weight.
What are acceptable items for the container?
- Grass, plants, flowers, leaves, sod and small amounts of soil (see details below).
Other items to place beside the container – tree prunings, hedge prunings and branches must be tied in secure bundles no longer than 90 cm. (36 in.) or wider than 60 cm. (24 in.) in diameter, or heavier than 20 kg. (44 lb.). Individual branches must not exceed 7.6 cm (3 in.) in diameter. Christmas Trees cut in half with no tinsel or decorations are treated as branches as also permissible.
What are not acceptable items for the container?
- Rocks, stumps, flower pots, painted or treated wood, animal feces, garbage or recyclables.
Questions & Concerns should be directed to the town’s contractor Emterra (phone: 250-336-8066).
GARBAGE
Weekly Pick Up:
Have your garbage at the curb by 8am, and do not put it out the night below.
*Volume & Weight Limits:
- Maximum one 121 litre garbage can.
- Cannot exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and must have waterproof lids.
- Additional can over limit will only be picked up if a garbage tag is attached. Garbage tags can be purchased from Town Hall (1809 Beaufort Avenue) for $3.00 each (no tax), Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, not including statutory holidays.
Items Not Accepted:
- No yard waste allowed with garbage (see organics yard waste collection details above).
- No demolition or construction material allowed. You can take these materials directly to the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Waste Management facility in Cumberland. Click here for more information or call 250-336-8066.
Questions & Concerns should be directed to the Town’s contractor Emterra (phone: 250-336-8066).
To learn more about future garbage collection schedule changes being considered, click here.
BLUE BOX RECYCLING
For detailed information about Blue Box Recycling in the Town of Comox, click here.
For additional regional recycling services, visit the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre or call 250-334-6000.
Questions & concerns should be directed to the Town’s contractor Emterra, phone, 250-336-8066.
To view other options for recycling, garbage and organics visit the Comox Strathcona Waste Management website.
Sandi Fentiman
on said
I know that this e-mail may seem a little crazy, but I cannot, for the life of me find the schedule for East Courtenay (6th Street), but I managed to find this one. Up to about a year or more, I lived on Aspen Road, and the pick up schedule was on every second Tuesday.
What I need is the schedule-online-for East Courtenay, as I indicates-6th Street E. If you could direct me to the right site, I would be very grateful. I’m not having any luck on my own here; what with a new computer due to a crash of the last one. Thank you in advance.
Sandi Fentiman
on said
I can’t seem to find the right place to send this complaint, so I apologize if I’m inconveniencing you.
Our recycling (1766-6th Street – downhill “route”) has not been picked up today; as scheduled. This is about the 4 or 6th time this has happened and I’m getting rather tired of it! It’s kind of hard to miss two cardboard boxes full of cardboard and a blue bin!
I, and I’m sure other people, would like to see some action taken to stop this lack of service. I put everything out the night before, so yes, it’s out before 8:00 a.m. Thank you.