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Disposal surcharge materials

Business operations

Disposal surcharge materials are readily-recyclable and compostable materials that should be kept out of the landfill and are subject to the Disposal Surcharge Materials Rate.

City of Calgary landfill​ staff inspect commercial vehicle loads of garbage for these materials.

The Disposal Surcharge Materials​ Rate is higher than the basic sanitary waste rate to encourage recycling and composting.

We encourage you to avoid paying these rates by removing recyclable and compostable materials from your loads before arriving at the landfill.

Recycling options

For private recycling options of these materials, please see Waste Disposal Options for Businesses and Organizations​.

City landfills offer limited recycling options for drywall and recyclable wood (untreated wood and pallets).

City landfills also offer limited composting options for separated loads of certain yard waste materials.

Materials subject to disposal surcharge at City landfills

Food waste and yard waste - Effective Oct. 1, 2018

  • Food waste: Raw and cooked food, food scraps, packaged food, food soiled paper
  • Yard waste: Leaves and cones, plants and flowers, branches, twigs, hedge prunings, grass clippings, weeds, hay, cold barbeque or fireplace ashes, Christmas trees and soil.
  • Sod is subject to the basic sanitary waste rate.

Paper and cardboard
Newspaper, catalogues, magazines, mixed paper (including office paper), shredded paper, telephone books, boxboard, corrugated cardboard.

Concrete
Whole or crushed, up to 1 metre (3.5 feet), that may contain asphalt, metal reinforcement or aggregate.

Brick and masonry block
Structural or decorative, with or without mortar, crushed or whole.

Road Asphalt

Asphalt shingles
Please note: effective January 1, 2019, the disposal surcharge will be suspended for asphalt shingles. Shingles will be accepted and charged the Basic Sanitary rate for disposal, as recycling options are limited.

Scrap metals
Construction, demolition and renovation related scrap metals up to 1.2 m (4 ft).

Recyclable Wood
Dimensional lumber, pallets, and other items that are made of raw and un-processed wood.

Drywall
Gypsum wallboard.

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We do regular research with businesses to better understand the outlook and viewpoint of the business community. If you are a business owner, leader or manager, join our online business research panel, Business Perspectives.

Join the Business Perspectives Panel
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