The City of Calgary enforces the 
Waste & Recycling Bylaw 20M2001 that regulates garbage disposal in Calgary. While the Waste and Recycling Bylaw is the main bylaw related to garbage disposal in the city, sections of the Community Standards Bylaw 5M2004 and Traffic Bylaw 26M96 also relgate to the burning and transportation of waste materials.
This page is an overview of these regulations. Please refer to the actual bylaw for more detailed information. Original copies of the bylaw are available at the City Clerk's office.
Overview of the waste and recycling bylaw
The following information is from the Waste and Recycling Bylaw 20M2001, unless otherwise indicated:
- Garbage bags, containers, and their contents must weigh no more than 20 kg (44 lbs.) combined.
- Yard waste must not be tied in bundles more than 1.25 metres (4 feet) in length.
- Garbage should be set out by 7 a.m. on your collection day, but not before 7 p.m. the day before and be removed no later than 7 p.m. on collection day.
- Sharp objects must be packaged in a puncture resistant, non-breakable container with a tight fitting lid before being placed in a container or a plastic garbage bag.
- All waste must be placed in proper garbage containers with handles and lids (max. 100 litres), or in a standard plastic garbage bag.
- Garbage must not accumulate on your property (Community Standards Bylaw 5M2004).
- Owners/occupants are responsible for maintaining their property in a tidy condition.
- Collector's access to the garbage collection site must not be blocked.
- All material transported to the landfill must be covered or secured in transit (Traffic Bylaw 26M96).
- Garbage must not be burned (Community Standards Bylaw 5M2004).
- Medical waste, animal waste, sawdust and powdered materials must be packaged and securely tied in double plastic garbage bags.
- Hazardous waste, biochemical waste, dead animals, tires, automobile parts, furniture and liquids must not be set out for residential garbage collection.
Fines for violations of these regulations range between $125 and $1000.
Please view the the Fall clean-up video for more information.
Filing a complaint
To report a bylaw violation please choose one of the following options:
