Residential Yard Waste Collection

Weekly collection from single-family homes & duplexes on garbage day all year round.

• Grass, plants, flowers, leaves, sod and small amounts of soil in special 100% compostable or 100% biodegradable plastic or paper yard waste bags that have been individually marked as such by the manufacturer and do not exceed 77 litres in volume or 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in weight.
• You may also use garbage cans (with lids on) that are marked clearly as “Yard Waste” and do not exceed 77 litres in volume or 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in weight.
• 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.
• NO LIMITS ON QUANTITY OF YARD WASTE
• You may NOT include rocks, stumps, flower pots, painted or treated wood, animal feces, kitchen waste, garbage or recyclables with your yard waste
• Have your yard waste at the curb by 8 am to ensure that the contractor will pick it up
• Please call our garbage collection contractor Emterra at 250-336-8066 if you have questions about their service.

Residential Blue Box Recycling

Residential pickup of recycling continues every second week. For full details consult our COMOX RECYCLES GUIDE under related items at bottom of this page.

Change From Blue Bags to Blue Boxes

The use of BLUE BAGS for recycling has been phased out and replaced with a BLUE BOX system – starting 2009 blue bags were no longer collected. At the start of this program one blue box was distributed to each single family home and duplex in Comox on a one-time basis. This blue box became the private property of the property owner. You must have at least one blue box to take part in the program. Click here for information on the Change from Blue Bags to Blue Boxes and How to Purchase a Blue Box.

How to Use the Blue Box

Please place mixed (unsorted) recyclables into the blue box (just as you used to in the blue bag), however do not place a paper product inside a plastic product – such as shredded paper inside a plastic bag – instead put paper inside paper such as shredded paper inside a paper bag or cardboard box. Plastic shopping bags and plastic wrap can now be added to the mixed recyclabels, if clean. Tips on how to pack your blue box for a windy day.

Acceptable Items

Plastic milk jugs (rinsed with lids removed)
Tetra Paks and Gable end cartons (example – milk and juice containers)
Plastic bags and plastic wrap (compress soft plastics in plastic bags)
Plastics 1 thru 7 (DON”T place hard plastics in plastic bags, they will be left behind)
Metal food containers (rinsed with labels removed)
Newsprint and boxboard (remove liners from boxes)
Cardboard (flattened AND tied) Maximum size 90cm x 90cm (3’x3’)
Mixed waste paper (junk mail, telephone books, magazines, envelopes and stationary)
Shredded paper (place shredded paper in paper products, not plastic bags)

Non Acceptable Items:

Glass, Styrofoam and most wrapping paper.

If your blue box is full, extra recyclables can be placed in any other open container next to the blue box -ensure that these additional containers do not exceed the basic dimensions of the blue box and remember the weight limit on all containers of 35 pounds – NO LIMITS ON RECYCLING QUANTITIES.

Tips on how to pack your blue box for a windy day.

• Have your recycling at the curb by 8 am to ensure that the contractor will pick it up
• Please call our garbage collection contractor Emterra at 250-336-8066 if you have questions about their service.

2012 Recycling Pickup Dates

Tuesday through Friday

Use your Blue Box For:

Residential Garbage Collection

• Weekly Pickup – see map and schedule in Comox Recycles Guide (below)
• Maximum one 121 litre garbage can
• Cannot exceed 20 kilograms (44 pounds)
• 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 $2.40 each (no tax)
• Must use cans with secure waterproof lids
• NO yard waste allowed with garbage (see yard waste collection details above)
• NO demolition or construction material allowed. You can take these materials directly to the Regional District’s Pidgeon Lake Landfill
• Have your garbage at the curb by 8 am to ensure that the contractor will pick it up
• Please call our garbage collection contractor Emterra at 250-336-8066 if you have questions about their service.

Comox Strathcona Waste Managment Recycling Depots:

Click here to see the current locations for Comox Strathcona depots.

Depots for depositing plastic milk jugs, metal cans, and plastic (types 1-7) food containers, mixed paper (newspapers, magazines, junk mail, phone books) cardboard, and boxboard. No styrofoam. The nearest depot to Comox (after the location at CFB Comox closes April 30, 2012) will be Home Depot, Ryan and Lerwick Roads, Courtenay

Other Recycling:

Comox Return Centre 678 Anderton Road (339-0059)
Provides refunds for all beverage containers including juice, water, pop, wine, and spirits sold in plastic, metal, glass or Tetra pack containers. Please rinse and remove lids, but leave labels on. In addition, this is the Comox Valley’s Paint and Paint Products return centre.

Unplugged Small Applicance Recycling Program – (small applicances) – Encorp Return-It Centre on Puntledge Road in Courtenay – phone: 250-338-6013
Return It – (electronics) – Encorp Return-It Centre on Puntledge Road in Courtenay – phone: 250-338-6013
Journey Recycling Program – (office paper) – Phone: 250-338-5884
Recycling Council of British Columbia – (various items)
Comox Strathcona Waste Management searchable Recycling Directory (various items)
Comox Valley Regional District – phone: 250-334-6000
Recycling Hotline 1-800-667-4321

Regional Landfill

The Comox Valley Waste Management Centre is located near the Village of Cumberland – phone: 250-334-6000.