It is in our best interest to participating fully in the organics (food & yard waste) and recycling programs in order to create the least negative impact on the environment and, reduce the amount of waste being sent to the landfill in order to extend its lifespan which defers major capital expenditures.
Quick tips:
- Do not line cart with a bag
- Keep recyclables loose in the cart—never bagged
- Do not pack cart too tightly as it may not fully empty into the collection truck
- Shredded paper must be placed in a paper bag or cardboard box.
- Empty and rinse containers.
- Remove any tape, string, ribbon or other contaminants
- Place curbside by 8am.
- Cart lid must be fully closed.
- Recycling is collected by-weekly.
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
NOTE: If you are in a commercial or strata complex that does not have the automated curbside carts, please call Emterra to discuss your collection: 250-336-8066.
For curbside automated carts - please ensure that you have followed all of the Cart Set Out Guidelines , including that:
- curbside automated carts must be at the curb by 8 am (regardless of your usual collection time)
- lids must be fully closed
- nothing on top of the cart
- each cart has at least 3 feet of clearance around it and 10 feet of clearance overhead
- only the allowable items are inside each cart
- for details, use the Wizard tool on our main Solid Waste webpage, which is also available on the Comox Curbside App (on Apple or Google Play). Look for the magnifying glass symbol called Wizard.
If you have followed all the Cart Set Out Guidelines and your collection was not done, please contact the Town of Comox, Public Works department to discuss at publicworks@comox.ca or 250-339-5410 - they will enquire with the contractor to determine when your collection route was completed and if there was a reason your collection was not done.
Your cart contents are too compressed.
- Loosen your cart contents for the next scheduled collection day.
- A second cart tip is not a service included in the Town bylaw.
You may consider disposing of extra recycling (cardboard, glass, styrofoam, and flexible plastics) at the Courtenay Return-It Depot - check their website for a full list of what they accept.
Recycle BC has partnered with the Town of Comox for processing the curbside recycle cart contents - they set the guidelines for what is acceptable.
Resources:
- Automated Curbside Waste Collection Guide & Schedule
- Use the Wizard tool on the Solid Waste webpage - about halfway down that webpage, look for the magnifying glass symbol called Wizard - the tool is also on the Comox Curbside App (on Apple or Google Play).
Common items listed below:
ACCEPTED in the curbside recycle cart:
cardboard
paper - (if shredded, place in a paper bag or box)
metal food tins and lids (empty and rinse) - no scrap metal
plastic food containers (empty and rinse) - no flexible or hard/durable, see options in section below
For containers, see the full list of Accepted Items at Containers - Recycle BC
NOT ACCEPTED in the curbside recycle cart:
clothing or fabrics - donate for re-use or, bag and mark as "Recycling" at a Salvation Army Thrift Store - call ahead to ensure they are accepting
books with hard covers - donate or, remove the hard cover, glue and bindings then recycle the loose pages
batteries - take to Courtenay Return-It Depot
electronics - take to Courtenay Return-It Depot
flexible plastics are items used for packaging such as bags, overwrap, zip lock, woven and net bags, bubble wrap. Take to Courtenay Return-It Depot.
hard/durable plastics are items designed for long-term use such as Tupperware, totes, toys, tool boxes, lawn chairs that also have a recycle symbol on the bottom that contains a number 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. Take to the Comox Strathcona Waste Management (landfill in Cumberland) for their onsite recycling commerical hard plastic bin.
styrofoam - take to Courtenay Return-It Depot
glass - take to Courtenay Return-It Depot
metal, scrap - take to a local scap metal recycler
Household Hazardous Waste and, many of the items listed above (and more) - take to the Comox Strathcona Waste Management (Comox Valley Site in Cumberland), see the drop off dates/times on their webpage.
- Stack related items together – such as yogurt containers.
- Ensure all your cardboard is flattened - cut up larger pieces so they can stack flatter.
- Crush, compact and compress items such as bulky plastic containers and tin cans before placing into the cart, not after...
- Ensure the waste is not packed too tightly in the cart as it may not fully empty into the collection truck. If that happens, it is not considered a missed collection - loosen the contents in your cart for the next collection day.
- Store your extras and refill your recycling cart over the following collection week.
- Drop off certain items at the Courtenay Return-IT Depot - check their website or call ahead to ensure your item is accepted there - starting December 1st 2025, they will no longer accept Scrap Metal.
- Should you require an increase to your service level by way of an additional or larger Recycle cart please visit the Cart Changes webpage.
The limits are based on the cart size, not on the cart type.
- 360L Cart max weight limit = 332.5 lbs
- 240L Cart max weight limit = 227.5 lbs
The Town's collection contractor hauls it to Recycle BC on the mainland to be sorted then sold to companies who recycle it into new items:
- Plastic is recycled into new packaging, broadloom, rope, brush bristles, car bumpers, household furnishings, decking, picnic tables, deck chairs and gardening supplies.
- Paper packaging is recycled into new boxes, paper towels, tissues, paper-based plant pots, the paper cover for drywall liner, kraft paper, and brown paper products including paper towels.
- Aluminum is recycled into new aluminum containers, road signs and window frames.
Learn more:
What Happens to My Recycling? | Recycle BC
Click the links below to explore:
- General questions that apply to all cart services.
- Cart Basics
- Cart Set Out Guidelines
- When is my collection day? Enter your address into the Calendar tool on our main Solid Waste webpage.
- What goes where? Enter the item into Wizard tool on our main Solid Waste webpage.
- Courtenay Return-It Depot
- Household Hazardous Waste
Still have a question? Please contact Comox Public Works by email at publicworks@comox.ca or phone: 250-339-5410.
Thank you.