Yard waste cleanup - Topics

Fill your green cart

Always fill your green cart first - put yard waste directly inside the cart either loose or in paper bags.

If your green cart is full, you can put extra yard waste in paper yard waste bags for pickup.

  • Set extra yard waste bags 0.5 meters (2 feet) away from your cart.
  • Roll the tops of your paper yard waste bags closed to prevent spills and allow your collector to pick up the bags.
  • Make sure your bags are not too heavy. If you can lift the bag with one hand, it's ok.
  • Do not approach the driver when you see the collection truck coming. Make sure your carts are out for 7 a.m. on your collection day.

Please help keep your driver safe by making sure to fill the cart as much as possible before leaving extra bags out. It's ok if the lid is slightly ajar.

During busier periods, we will collect material inside the cart, but may limit the number of extra bags we pick up to make sure everyone gets service. If some of your extra bags are not picked up, store them on your property until the next green cart collection.

After your cart has been emptied, please put extra yard waste and yard waste bags directly into the green cart for the next pickup.

Carts have a 60 kg weight limit. If you can roll the cart, it should be ok.


Take yard waste to a City landfill

This is useful for residential households that would like to dispose of extra material quicker or for yard waste that is too large for your green cart:

  • Loads should only have leaves, branches, plants and grass clippings.
  • We do not accept sod or food scraps. Put these items in your green cart.
  • Shake the soil off plants and roots.
  • Any loads containing garbage or sod will be subject to regular landfill fees.
  • Composting for sod is not available at City landfills. If you take sod to the landfill, you will be charged the basic sanitary rate​.
  • Commercial customers with yard waste will be subject to regular landfill fees.
  • Commercial loads are not accepted at Shepard.

Preferred payment methods are credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express), debit card or cash.

For faster service, we suggest visiting the landfill on a weekday or before 9 a.m. on Saturdays when wait times are shorter.

For hours and locations, visit Landfill Locations and Hours.

Free mulch

Some larger yard waste branches are chipped into mulch (wood chips) and made available for residential use.

For pickup details, please see the Free Mulch page.

Compost giveaway events

Compost is available for pickup from April 24 to June 10, by online appointment only, at Shepard and Spyhill landfills. For more information visit Compost Giveaway.

Compost for Community Organizations

The City of Calgary is pleased to provide community gardens, community associations, schools and other community groups with access to complimentary Category A compost. Call 311 to have more information.

Composting yard waste at City landfills - FAQ

What yard waste can I bring to a City landfill?

  • Loads should only have leaves, branches, plants and grass clippings.
  • We do not accept sod or food scraps. Put these items in your green cart.
  • Shake the soil off plants and roots.

Residential customers: If your load contains sod or other garbage, you will be charged the basic garbage (sanitary) rate and the material will go to the landfill.

Commercial customers: charges will apply. Food and yard waste mixed in garbage loads will be subject to higher fees as part of Disposal Surcharge Materials.

How to prepare your yard waste

Put yard waste in paper yard waste bags or leave it loose.

If you use plastic bags, you must empty them at the landfill. Please cover and secure your loads of yard waste before transporting.

Why isn't sod or food waste accepted at City landfills?

The yard waste material collected through this program is taken directly to the outdoor composting pads at City landfills. These compost pads are not permitted to accept food waste and cannot process sod.

You can put sod or food waste into your green cart at home. Material from the green cart program goes to the indoor composting facility that can process these materials.​​​

drop-off/landfill-throw-n-go-facilities,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null,undefined/null