Who is Waste & Recycling Services?
We are responsible for the collection, disposal and management of waste and recycling in The City of Calgary.
Our mission
To provide waste resource management services for the community, to protect public health and the environment.
Our vision
To lead the community towards zero waste.
What we do
At Waste & Recycling Services, we perform the following services:
Collect residential waste as defined under 
Waste & Recycling Bylaw 20M2001. Collect commercial and industrial waste on a fee-for-service basis. Operate three landfills, available to Calgary and the surrounding region. Provide a variety of waste diversion programs:
The City of Calgary is the first public waste management organization in Western Canada to achieve registration for ISO 14001.
We are moving Calgary towards recycling 80 per cent of our waste by 2020. At the same time, we maintain landfills and weekly garbage collection for a city of more than one million people. View our2010 Annual Report.
How we work
1. Strategic Services
This division is responsible for planning the future of Waste & Recycling Services, particularly our 80/20 by 2020 diversion goal.
Provide strategic leadership by creating long-term vision
Develop the budget and business plan for Waste & Recycling Services
Research and review new technology and programs
- Evaluate technology and processes to achieve the 80/20 by 2020 goal
Help support administrative services, 3-1-1 (training co-ordination) and records management
2. Infrastructure & Program Development
This division is responsible for creating and maintaining our infrastructure.
Design and build new infrastructure (e.g. buildings, scalehouses, entryways)
Develop new waste diversion initiatives
- Test, plan and build technology to increase landfill diversion
- Pilot and transfer new technology to operations
Maintain and design collection routes
Plan future use of active and inactive landfill sites
3. Collection Services
Collection Services collects the waste and recyclable materials from homes, businesses and community depots.
Collect residential and non-residential waste
Design and manage collection of residential organics and recyclables
Manage recycling depot collections and operations
Integrate new technology to improve collection efficiency
4. Disposal & Processing Services
This group serves a multitude of customers who access landfill managing materials received and ensuring compliance with operating approvals and environmental legislation.
Manage and dispose of municipal and industrial waste
- Manage household hazardous waste
Compost leaf and yard waste
Monitor the environment of active and inactive landfill sites
Manages surface water
Collect and manage leachate (the liquid produced when water passes through waste)
Collect and use landfill gas
Design and build landfill cells
- Issue landfill permits and produce reports on landfills
