Acceptable compostable bags and liners

Using a compost bag is a great way to keep your kitchen pail and green cart clean, as well as reduce odours and pests. While bagging is helpful, it is not required.
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NOTE: For the safety of your collector, the following items must be bagged: pet waste, kitty litter, animal bedding, sawdust and wood shavings, and cold barbeque or fireplaces ashes​.

If you choose to use a liner, here are some options:


Certified compostable logos

compostable-bag-no-logo
When buying compostable bags, look for one of the following certified compostable logos on the box. This will ensure the bags will work with the Green Cart program.
A compostable bag example, filled with compostable waste.
The bags will usually be tinted (green, brown etc.) and will have the certified compostable logo(s) printed directly on the bag as well.

Certified compostable bag options

If you choose to use a liner, here are some examples of certified compostable bags carried by retailers in Calgary. This is not a complete list - contact your preferred location to confirm product availability.​

We regularly update the list of stores in Calgary to make sure their bags are certified compostable. 

 

Pet waste certified compostable bags
Locations available
Calgary Co-op Pet Valu
Canadian Tire Tail Blazers
Paws Pet Food & Accessories (Bio Bag is the only certified compostable bag available.) Unleashed
PAWSitively Natural Calgary Farmers' Market
Certified brands available (make sure certified compostable logo is on bag/box)
BioBag dog waste bags Pet waste compostable bags: Earth Rated dog waste bags (makes sure compostable logo is on bag/box)
beyondGREEN biotech pet waste bags Pet waste compostable bags: SCHŒP
Pet waste compostable bags: LEAF dog waste bags  
Paper yard waste bags
Paper yard waste bags: Locations available
Paper yard waste bags: Canadian Tire Paper yard waste bags: No Frills
Paper yard waste bags: Costco Rona
Paper yard waste bags: Home Depot Save on Foods
Paper yard waste bags: London Drugs Superstore
Paper yard waste bags: Lowes Walmart
Paper yard waste bags: Giant Tiger  
Kitchen pail liners
Kitchen pail liners: Locations available
Box/No Frills Pharmasave
Canadian Tire Rona
Community Natural Foods Safeway
Calgary Farmers' Market Save on Foods
Calgary Co-op (including certified compostable bags available in rolls near checkout area) Shoppers Drug Mart
Costco (including certified compostable bag available at meat counter) Sobeys
Dollarama Staples
Giant Tiger Sunnyside Natural Market
Home Depot Superstore
Italian Supermarket Walmart
Lee Valley  
London Drugs    
Kitchen pail liners: Brands available
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Al-Pack Compostable
  • 9.8 L Mini Food Waste Bags
  • 46.5 L Tall bin liner
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Giant Value
  • Small liner bag
  • Tall compostable bag
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Bag to Earth
  • Small lined paper bag
  • Large lined paper bag
  • Large lined paper bag
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Great Value
  • 7.5 L Small bin liner
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Bag to Nature
  • Leaf and yard waste bag (extra large)
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Glad Compostable OdourShield
  • 9.84 L small quick tie
  • Tall compostable bag
  • Compostable lawn and leaf bag
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Biosak
  • Small liner bag
  • Tall compostable bag
  • Yard waste bag
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Green lid
  • Compostable compost bin
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Compliments Green Care
  • Small lined kitchen food waste bag (tie handles)
  • Tall compostable bag (tie handles)
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Hercules
  • 7.5 L standard food waste bags
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Ecosafe
  • Yard and garden bags
Kitchen pail liners:
  • LEAF kitchen bags
  • Small kitchen bag
  • Tall kitchen bag
Kitchen pail liners:
  • If You Care
  • 11.4 L Food waste bags
  • 49.2 L Tall kitchen bags
Kitchen pail liners:
  • No name
  • Kitchen bags
Kitchen pail liners:
  • Frank
  • 7.5 L Small waste bags
  • 46.5 L Tall waste bags

beyondGREEN biotech

  • beyondGREEN biotech
  • 3 gallon liner bags
  • 5 gallon liner bags

 

 

Kitchen compost pails

Put indoor compost pails in other rooms in your home beyond the kitchen – wherever you have a garbage bin, add an extra compost pail to make it easy to compost foods scraps.

You can purchase compost bins at hardware and big box stores like Canadian Tire, London Drugs, Lowes and Home Depot.
 
You can also reuse any container with a lid like an ice cream bucket.
 
The City of Calgary does not provide replacement kitchen pails.



Pail  
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Flyers and newspapers

Follow our quick kitchen pail liner guide to make a flyer/newspaper liner at home. For best results, use 3-4 sheets of large newsprint. The newspaper along with the food waste can go directly into the green cart.

 

Unacceptable liner bags

The following bags are not accepted in the Green Cart program:

No plastic bags

Plastic bags interfere with the composting process​ and break down into small pieces of plastic that will contaminate the finished compost.

NOTE: Bags labelled as biodegradable and oxo-degradable are also made from plastic and do not belong in the green cart.​​​​​​​​​​
Unacceptable bag liners
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