Recycling Updates and Winter Green Cart Schedule
As of October 1st, Calgarians are able to recycle more household waste in their Blue Cart as new materials are now being accepted. These changes are part of the provincial recycling policy, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), that makes manufacturers responsible for managing recycling in Alberta.
New materials that can be added to your Blue Cart include:
Flexible bags like chip bags, granola bar wrappers, and coffee bags
Foam packaging like cushion blocks, meat trays, and egg cartons
Tubes like lotion tubes, deodorant, and toothpaste
Food and body aerosols like cooking spray, hairspray, and sunscreen
Visit Recycle more to read about this update in greater detail.
Remember:
Recyclables must be empty and clean before they are deposited in your Blue Cart. This helps recycling facilities more easily turn recyclables into new products.
Recycling facilities are designed to sort packaging, not products or goods. When non-recyclable materials are placed in your Blue Cart, they can jam or damage sorting equipment, put workers at risk, and contaminate recyclable materials (making it harder to turn them into new products).
If you’re ever unsure of the correct way to dispose of an item, you can look up the item on the City’s What Goes Where? page to find out.
Winter Green Cart Schedule
Beginning in November, green cart collection will shift to every other week. This seasonal schedule helps match service to the lower volumes of yard waste during colder months.
As you complete your Fall yard clean-up, if you have extra yard waste that can’t fit in your green cart, free yard waste drop-off is available at any City Eco Centre until October 31.
Weekly Green Cart collection will return in April 2027, when spring clean-up season begins. Visit calgary.ca/reminders to get the free Calgary Garbage Day App!
