The City of Calgary provides blue cart recycling collection to single family households (up to and including four units). It's easy to do - no sorting required. Just place your clean recyclables in your blue cart.
When your cart is full, set it out by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day at your pick-up location (either back lane or front curb).
What can I put in my blue cart?
- paper and cardboard
- plastic jugs, bottles and food containers
- metal food cans and foil
- glass bottles and jars
Learn more about what can be recycled or download and print a copy of our guide to recycling:
Please call 311 if you would like to receive a copy of the Easy Guide to Recycling.
How do I prepare my recyclables?
Learn more about how to place your cart and properly prepare your recyclables.
Who receives a blue cart?
Blue Cart recycling collection is provided to single-family residences up to and including four units, provided they are not part of a multi-residential complex. A multi-residential complex is a group of more than four dwelling units that share a common parcel of land, or share a private roadway that provides access to dwelling units.
Each blue cart is 107 cm high, 59 cm wide and 73 cm deep and can hold up to 60 kg of material.
Need a cart?
If you have moved into a new home that does not have a blue cart, please complete an online service request or call 311.
If your cart is missing or damaged, please call 311.
Missed a collection?
If you missed a collection, please complete an online service request or call 311.
Blue Cart - Request a New CartBlue Cart - Missed Collection? How is the blue cart recycling program going?
Calgarians are doing a great job recycling and it's all adding up to make a huge difference. Through our Blue Cart program and community recycling depots, we've recycled more than 200 million kilograms of material in the last three years (July 2009-July 2012).
How much is the Blue Cart Recycling Fee?
Households receiving Blue Cart service are charged monthly on their utility bill (ENMAX). The Blue Cart recycling fee is not optional if your household is eligible.
In 2012, residents receiving Blue Cart recycling benefitted from efficiencies in the program through a 19 per cent reduction in monthly fees. The program is completely funded through the monthly fees and revenue from the sale of recyclable materials.
Monthly rates are based on a thirty (30) day period. The amount billed is established by dividing the applicable monthly rate by thirty (30) to derive a daily rate and multiplying the daily rate by the actual number of days in the billing period.
| Monthly Rate |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|---|
| Blue Cart Recycling Fee ($ per 30 days) |
$8.75 |
$7.10 |
$7.40 |
$7.70 |
|---|
Onward/ The City educates Calgarians on the materials that can be recycled through our programs. |
80/20 Waste Reduction Plan: By 2020, per capita waste sent to City of Calgary landfills is reduced from 2007 levels by 80 per cent.
Other recycling options
Calgarians can also recycle at community recycling depots across the city. For a location near you, view the recycling depot locations map.
There are a number of companies that provide collection of recyclable materials for multi-family residents. For a list of providers, visit the Recycling Hotline and search under residential recycling collection.
