Christmas Tree Recycling
In 2010-2011, we collected more than 36,000 Christmas trees from door to door and depot locations. Thank you for recycling your real Christmas tree. Check back in December for 2011-2012 program details.
Blue Cart Recycling
Blue Cart is a weekly residential recycling pick-up service for single family households up to and including fourplexes.
Community Recycling Depots
Calgarians can recycle anytime at any of the 52 Community Recycling Depots across the city. These depots accept paper and cardboard, metal food cans and foil, glass bottles and jars, plastics and beverage containers.
Landfill Throw 'n' Go
Recycle your appliances at our Throw 'n' Go facilities located at all three Calgary landfills (please note charges apply).
Electronics Recycling
Drop off your old and unusable electronic items like televisions and computer monitors at one of several permanent electronic recycling depots. Items can be dropped off at no extra charge, seven days a week.
Leaf & Pumpkin Composting Program
Each fall we provide temporary drop-off sites citywide for pumpkins and leaves collected from your yard. The service is provided to residents at no extra charge.
Leaves, branches, grass, stumps and general yard debris are accepted at all City landfills for composting. Sod and soil are excluded. All materials must be loose, not in plastic bags. Visit the
landfill rates page for current charges.
Backyard Composters
The City sells subsidized backyard composters to help residents recycle organics.
Grasscycling
Recycle your grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn after you mow. They'll keep your lawn healthy by acting as a fertilizer and preventing moisture loss.
Paint, motor oil and household hazardous waste recycling
Take your paints, motor oils and other household chemicals to any of The City's landfills or designated Fire Department stations with special storage depots. The service is offered at no extra charge.
Tire Recycling
Dispose of your tires and rims at no charge at the Throw 'n' Go areas at any City landfill. All vehicle tires, including tires with rims, are accepted at any City landfill. Loads of more than 12 tires must be taken to Shepard Landfill.
How can I start a recycling program?
A recycling program requires three components:
- Collection
- Processing
- Markets for recyclable materials
A successful recycling program is a team effort. Everyone's involved and connected, from governments to processors to manufacturers, to you and your family. We all depend on each other to keep the cycle going: if any one of the team members drops out, the recycling process stops.
It's all a part of the recycling cycle:
- It starts with you - Make a decision to reduce, reuse and recycle before putting your waste into your garbage.
- We'll take it from there - The City will collect your recyclables and deliver them to a processor who can turn them into a high quality raw material.
- A new product is made - A manufacturer buys the processed raw material and produces a new product.
It can end with you, too - Make a decision to buy recycled products. If enough people make that decision it will be worthwhile for manufacturers to buy more recycled raw materials, from which to make more recycled products, continuing the cycle of reusing materials.
For more reduction tips, visit Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
