Black cart garbage

The City of Calgary provides household garbage collection through the Black Cart program. This service is available to single-family residential homes. 

Garbage can include diapers, hygiene products, hoses and other items that have reached the end of their life and can’t be reused or recycled. 

The program works together with the Blue and Green Cart programs to help Calgarians manage their waste responsibly.

Black cart tips

  • Black carts are collected once every two weeks (year-round).

  • Black carts can hold about 4 standard garbage bags.

  • Set out black cart by 7 a.m. on your collection day.

Less garbage, more recycling

Starting October 1st, packaging that used to be garbage can now go in the blue cart for recycling including:

Chip bags and snack wrappers

Toothpaste and deodorant

Foam packaging

Food and body aerosols like cooking spray and hair spray

Learn more at calgary.ca/recyclemore.

Find your garbage pickup schedule

Use the scheduling tool to find your blue, green and balck collection days, sign up to get free pickup day reminders or print a physical calendar.

Find your pickup day

  • Type your address in the search box.
  • For holiday changes, see the holiday schedule.

Sign up for free reminders

  • Type your address in the search box
  • Select Get a reminder
  • Choose preferred notice type (email, phone etc.)
  • Add contact details and preferred day and time for your weekly reminders

Print a calendar

  • Type your address in the search box
  • Select Get a calendar
  • You can print a calendar or add an online calendar (Google, iCal, Outlook)

Download the Calgary Garbage Day app

  • Get weekly notifications directly on your smartphone.

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

Cart customer service

Don't know where to put an item?

What Goes Where

Use our online search tool to look up recycling, compost, and safe disposal options for hundreds of items.

Look up items for disposal

Black cart information

Guides and booklets

Download and print our helpful information sheets so you can easily reference what to do with your waste. Keep on the fridge or where you store your waste bins.

Using your other carts