Calgary Garbage & Recycling

The City of Calgary provides curbside waste collection for most houses, including garbage, recycling, and organics (green cart) services. Everything is managed through the city’s Waste & Recycling Services program.

Your Standard Curbside Service (Most Houses)

If you own a single-family home, duplex, or townhouse, you receive cart-based collection service.

What you get

When you move in, the property should already have:

♻️ 1 recycling cart (blue cart)
🟢 1 green cart (organics & yard waste)
🗑️ 1 garbage cart (black cart)

The carts belong to the property, not the homeowner, and stay when ownership changes.

If carts are missing, contact 311 to request delivery.

Collection Schedule

Collection schedules vary by neighbourhood but typically include:

• Garbage — every 2 weeks

• Recycling — every 2 weeks

• Green cart — weekly in spring/summer and every 2 weeks in winter

Seasonal changes occur to match yard waste volumes, with weekly organics pickup returning each spring.

Put carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.

Holiday schedules may shift pickup dates.

Placement rules

• Place carts at the curb or lane depending on your property

• Leave space between carts

• Lids must fully close

Recycling Program

Calgary uses single-stream recycling.

Accepted items

• Paper and cardboard

• Plastic containers and packaging

• Glass bottles and jars

• Metal food and beverage containers

Quick tips

• Rinse containers

• Keep recyclables loose

• Flatten cardboard boxes

Residents can check sorting rules using the city’s “What Goes Where” tool.

Garbage Collection

Garbage goes into the black cart.

Garbage rules:

• Bag garbage securely

• Lid must fully close

• No extra items beside the cart without booking pickup

Biweekly garbage pickup encourages waste diversion into recycling and compost programs.

Yard Waste Collection (Seasonal)

Yard waste is collected through the green cart program.

Accepted yard waste

• Leaves and grass clippings

• Garden plants

• Small branches

• Food scraps

Extra yard waste can be placed in paper bags beside the cart (seasonally allowed).

Large Items & Special Waste

Option A — Large Item Pickup

Residents can schedule pickup for:

• Furniture

• Mattresses

• Large household items (fees apply)

Option B — City Drop-Off Locations

City facilities accept:

• Electronics

• Chemicals and paint

• Scrap metal

• Renovation materials (limits apply)

Compost & Food Waste

Calgary has a citywide Green Cart compost program.

Accepted items include:

• Food scraps

• Meat and bones

• Coffee grounds

• Food-soiled paper

• Yard waste

Food waste diversion helps reduce landfill use.

How You Pay for It

Waste collection is included as part of City of Calgary utility billing.

You pay a municipal service charge rather than paying per pickup.